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The Woodtorcl County History

WOODFORD COUNTi' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS— 196,S

Compiled 1)\ tlic Woodford County Sesquicenteiiiiial History Committee —

Mrs. Kenneth Smith, Chairwoman

Edited In- Mr. \\'illiani Yates

Published in roiijunction with the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the State of
Illinois lSIS-1968— Woodford County. Illinois

Library of Congress Card Number 68-8885

Manufactured in the United States of America

At Pantagrapfi Printing and Stationery Company

Bloomington, Illinois 61701

Wlial constitutes the hulwark ol our the struggle. Our rrliancc is in tlic low of

own liberty and independence? It is not liberty which Cod has planted in onr

our Irowning battlements, or bristling sea bosoms. Our defense is in the preserxation

coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the of the spirit which pri/es liberty as the

strength of our gallant and disciplined heritage of all men. in all lands, every-

army. These are not oiu' reliance against a where. Destro> this spirit, and you ha\'e

resumption of tyrann\ in our fair laud. All planted the seeds of despotism around

tliesc uia\ be tinned against our liberties, your own doors . . .
without making us stronger or weaker for — Ahu.\h.\.m Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, tlie Sixteenth President of the LInited States, rode the Eijjhth Judicial
Circuit which inchided Woodford County from 1844 to 1856. The Hne drawing on the cover
of this book is the Metamora Courthouse where Lincohi practiced law.

Prcjacr

Woodford C:ounb' 1841 to 19fi8

III this \t'ar of 1968, the Sesquiceiitcn-
nial, or 150th anniversary of our stateliood,
the histor\- of Woodford Count)- is being
brought up to date from tlie hi.stor\- written
in 1878. The preparation of the material
used in this histor>- has been generously
done In indixiduals xolunteering their time
and serviee. If there are any omissions,
these are regretted and not intentional. All
items were researelied as thorouglih' as
possible within the timetable allowed for
compiling material for the historx .

Our aim was to make this book an in-
formati\e as well a.s interesting account of
our count\'s histor\- for all who read it. We

hope it will proxe as \ahiable to the fuliuc
generations as the I87S History is to this
generation.

Woodford County's first lioard of Super-
visors was elected on April 16, 185.5; from
that time elected boards ha\-e reigned as
the goxeming bod\- of the county.

The book committee would like to take
this means of expressing their appreciation
to the present County Board of Supervisors
for all of their cooperation. This coopera-
tive assistance made publishing this book
possible.

Mrs. Kenneth Smith, Chnn.
Mrs. Marvin Keys
Mrs. Ernest Sullivan

.\leinhirs of tin- \\ oodlnid CoiiiitN lioanl ^irf front row: liliiitr C;fr]t'ts, Grttiif; Francis Kull,
Linn; L. Kii«t'ne Spc<-r. Olio; Jolin \\ luthricli. Cmncr; Lawrentf Gnard, Panola; second row:
Maynard C. Dnrst, Worth; Arttnir L. Garl)iT, Cazenovia; han Beavers, Cartridge; Lloyd
Wagner, Clayton; third row: Howard Heinhold, Montgonier>-; newcomer, Harold Crump,
Kansas; Chairman Robert T. Hocker, V.\ Paso; Arthur F. Sparks, Palestine; Wallace Tipsword,
Spring Ba\ ; F.rwin \. Beenders, Roanoke; back row: I. eland Klein, Metamora; Leonard
Stonier. Miiiotik; Sheriff, P;uil Meador.

Woodford County Organized

In the early 1800's, as the population of the
eastern states increased, available land for
homesteading sites became hard to find. So
those who sought to avoid the "crowd" set
out to conquer the prairies of the West —
in the new state of Illinois they sought a
new life.

Woodford county was organized in 1841
by a committee of pioneers, headed by
Thomas Bullock who came to Walnut
Grove (now Eureka) in 1835 from his
birthplace in Versailles, Woodford County,
Kentucky, The county and its first county
seat, Versailles, were both named by Mr.
Bullock in honor of his boyhood home.
Versailles village ceased to exist man>'
years ago.

The Woodford Count\- Courtliouse — Eureka,
Illinois.

Abraham Lincoln was one of the early
day lawyers who practiced in the Versailles
Court, and later at Hanover (now Meta-
mora) when the county seat was moved in
184.3. Eureka became the county seat in
1S94.

The county's affairs were conducted by
a board of three commissioners until the
year 1S50 when the present township or-
ganization plan was adopted. Until 1890
each township was represented by a super-
visor elected annualK'. Then super\isors
were cli\'ided into two classes and the two-
year term adopted. In 1930 the present

four-year term was established b>' a state
law approxed June 10, 1929.

Woodford county took its place as a new
county in a comparatively new state — to-
gether they faced the challenges of a
changing world and today they continue
to grow in both size and status.

Agriculture in Woodford County

Illinois continues in the forefront as one
of the leading agricultural states of our
nation; with Woodford County being one
of the many counties which make this pos-
sible.

The changes ui almost all areas of farm-
ing ha\e been man\' and ha\e benefited
the farmer. The use of more modern and
scientifically proven methods of farming
has meant a higher yield in crops planted.
Such things as fertilizers, chemicals, and
soil analysis were unheard of when the
early farmers struggled to plant and har\est
their crops. Today, the latest information
is available to the farmers through their
County E.xtension Ser\ice. The farmer has
an important role to pla>- in the health and
de\elopment of the nation.

Farmers of Woodford Count\' did not
stand still while all these changes were
being made and evidence of their achiexe-
ments can be seen at County and State
fairs where Woodford County farmers col-
lect their share of prizes. For proof of our
progress, drixe dowTi a country' road in the
fall and look o\er the picturesque land-
scape of fields ready for har\-est.

The following chart, supplied by the
Woodford County Extension Ser\ice,
shows the county average yield per acre
o\er the years:

CORN

Year Yield

1925 47

1935 48

1945 51

1955 63

1965 97

1967 105

WHEAT

Year Yield

1934 8.9

1944 20.1

1954 27.3

1964 39

OATS

Year Yield

1939 33.3

1949 42.9

1959 35

1966 61

SOVBEA.NS

Year Vickl

1939 27.0

1949 29.7

1959 30

1967 33

Where Buffalo Roamed

Under the passi\e eye of the Indian, the
tall prairie gras.se.s grew untrampled and
the great forest.s along Partridge and Wal-
nnt ereeks .stood in grandeur; the silence
was broken only b\' the call of the birds
or the occasional cr}" of some animal.

Huge herds of buffalo roamed o\er tlie
country feeding on the coarse grass; in tlie
summer the\' wallowed in the mud creat-
ing pits in the .soil that remain to this day.
Other wild animals abounded — deer, rab-
bits. s(|uirrels and foxes made their homes
here.

Occasionalh'. a prairie fire would sweep
through the tall grass driving all before it.
Sometimes started by nature, and some-
times by the Indians to drive back enemies,
fires became so frequent in some areas
that the\- pre\ented the growth of trees on
the prairie.

For the most part, the Indians did little
to disrupt a tran(]uil scene. They were
mostly of the Potawatomi tril)e. although
there were some Fox, Sac and Ottawa pres-

ent in tlie Woodford area. Most of their
time w;is spent in taking part in \illage
life — the\- were a rather peaceful group.
The)' were not In nature \ ioient, although
they were sonietiines disposed to indulge
in petty thie\ery. During tiie great snow of
1830-31, they proved to be of great assist-
ance in bringing the settlers provisions;
they did this in a most expedient manner —
by using snow shoes.

Tile first si-ttlers, who had been drawn
westward 1)\- the e\er increasing demand
for more land, began to build near Part-
ridge and Walnut creeks. The>' built their
early homes of timbers hewn from tlie
forest; tlien later of brick, hand burned
localK'. Of necessit)'. the\- grew tlieir own
food and made their own clothes. It was
almost as it time had been turned back
two lumdred Nt-ars to the da\ s of the early
colonists.

But it was not to remain so; change was
not long in coming. The wilderness began
to turn into a civilization. The land was
cleared, and homes were built; communi-
cations between this frontier and the east,
which had been slow and difficult, began
to increase.

A stage coach road was opened b\- drag-
ging a hea\y log through the tall prairie
grass. Whereas, before the people had fol-
lowed the age-old path of the Indians or
the trail of wild animals. the\' now began
to follow the roads.

The stor\- of the earl\- de\-elopment was
told in old records and documents which
were kept by the pioneers. The settlements
of the county were confined to the timber
and along streams. Nearh' all the land was
in the hands of the go\ernment and offered
for sale at SI. 25 per acre.

During a few short years, man had
altered a land which had remained for
hundreds of years — a land of great forests
and tall prairie grasses. And he had
changed it for all time. This is how it was
in the beginning. . . .

Contents

Towih>ihip Page

Cazeno\'ia 1

By Mrs. John Damerell and Mrs. Clifford Cordos

Clayton 35

B\ .Mrs. Hose Toole

Cruger 47

R\ Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Kcnncll

El Paso 51

B\ Mrs. Ethel Eft

Greene 77

By Mrs. I\an Kindig

Kansas 81

By (^harlene Proctor

Linn 85

B> Ralph Laible

Metaniora 88

By Mrs. Kenneth Smith. Mrs. Ernest Sullivan and Mrs. Marvin Keys

Minonk 106

B\ IIarr\ D. Smith and Robert W. Webster

Montgomery 113

By Mrs. Forrest Lemons. Mrs. Eli Hohulin and Mrs. Gertrude Greshman

Olio 121

By Burrus Dickinson

Palestine 131

B\' Mrs. IIenr\- E. Stoekhausen

Panola 135

By Mrs. Ethel Eft

Partridge 141

Bv Mrs. Hugh Maemillaii .md Mrs. Frank Poignant

Roanoke 153

By Mrs. June Barra and Mrs. Elsie Fcrrero

Spring Ba> 169

By Mrs. Rosa McCarty

Worth 183

By Mrs. Peter Rohman

Charles and .Abigail Rich Letters 195

CazeiioMU Township

Mus. JcniN Damlukll and Mrs. Clikkoko Cordes

Cazenovl\ TowNsmr recei\ed its name
from Cazenovia Lake, in the state of New-
York. There were four brothers-in-law liv-
ing near Lowpoint — Jeter Foster. Elisha
Rice, Thomas Clark, and John SaHord —
who came from the neighborhood ol tlie
lake above alluded to, and talked so iniich
about its beauties that they finalh' received
the name of "Old Cazenovia" among their
neighbors. The name was bestowed on
them in good humor, and received in the
same spirit, and clung to them until it
became almost as common as their true
names. When the county was organized
into townships, in LS52, the matter of a
name for this one evoked considerable dis-
cussion, until someone, as a joke on their
good-natured neighbors, proposed Caze-
novia, which was unaiiiiiiously adopted
without debate.

The home of James Owen was the vot-
ing place when there were only three pre-
cincts and three \oting places in the
count). The citizens of Partridge and
Spring Ba\ Hills came here to cast their
ballots and settle neighborhood disputes,
at times aided b\ whiskex' at 20t' a gallon.

The first supervisor under townsliip or-
ganization was John \\ . .\cres. James Ci.
Bayne was the first clerk, and Morgan
Buckingham, Sr.. was tlie first justice of
the peace.

The lioard of higii\\a\ eominissioners
was not organized until 1884. At the ,\pril
15 meeting, James Piper became president;
Jacol) Held, treasurer: Jolm T. Clark, sec-
rctarx . and commissioners were Jacob
Held. James Piper and F. E. Day.

At the annual meeting, .\pril, 1884, a poll
tax assessment of two dollars for each able-
bodied person in the township was \oted

for higln\a\- purposes, these persons to be
notified 1)\- letter to ha\e this assessment
paid 1)\ the first uioiitlil\ meeting in June,
or be summoned to appear l)efore Justice
of the Peace court to make pa\nient plus
court costs. Zion Held, constable, charged
50^ for ser\ ing and returning an execution
of judgment against Peter Wheeler on
Dec. 6, 1880. The judgment was for $38,35,
costs $5.05, tra\el 20e. and ser\ ice .50e.

Elections in 1884 were conducted much
as they are at present. Judges fee was $3.00
a day and b\- 1967 it became the present
fee of $20.00. In 1882, the tax on real
estate and personal property was 200 on
$10().()().

The kibor for hire in 1880 was noted as:
4 days with team, working on the roads,
$12.00: and on Nhirch 31, 1885, sho\eling
snow by hand, $2.50 a da\-. Wlien the
highway conunissioners mi't on Jan. 17,
1885, they allowed the following bills:
J. G. Raddelmiller, tiling road, $5.40; R. C.
McCullock, for tile, $29.70; J. M. Black,
lumber, $16.00: C. Bo>s. lime, $2.70:
Stinger & Sharp, nails, $6.25; Samuel
Laible, labor, $3.00; John Daub, labor,
$5.00; George Swartz, labor, S1.25; M. S.
Fulton, 2 order books, $1.50. Total $70.80.

The towiiship board met in the old town
hall in the \illage of Washburn until 1904,
when the hall burned. .\t tlie April, 1905,
annual meeting, it was decided to erect a
new building.

The board met monthlx in tliis buiitling
until Dec. 1967, wliiii a new township
building was completed in tlu- southeast
comer of Section 2.

Lexy for road purposes in 1905 was
$1600.00; Frank Ehringer was town clerk
at that time. Budget and appropriation

ordinance recommended by Cazeno\'ia
Township Board to be \oted on at the
annual meeting April 2, 1968 was for
Town Fund and General Assistance. S19,-
155.00; for Road Purposes $20,077.00.
There are 50 miles of blacktop and gravel
roads in the township and 14 bridges. The
newest bridge which crosses Snag Creek
in Section 12, was finished in 1966 at a cost
of $25,000.00.

In May, 1909, the Board of Health was
organized; serving on it were W. T. Wal-
lace, N. L. Peabody, and H. E. Twcddale.

On May 15, 1915, the homes of Tom
Holland, Harry Crawford, Charles Foster,
Robert Hood, and Adam Meismer were
quarantined for smallpox, by order of Dr.
S. M. Burdon and Dr. C. L. Boon.

Due to a threatened scarlet fever epi-
demic the following notice was published
in February of 1934; "All children shall re-
main on their premises. All gatherings,
public and private, in any school or church,
public or private meeting place, all loiter-
ing or loafing in any store, shop or cluli
shall be prohibited in the village of Wash-
bum until further notice. Signed, State
Board of Health."

This was before antibiotics had been dis-
covered. It was at this time that Ruth Barth
daughter of William and Gladys West
Barth, died of this dread disease.

The oldest man in Cazenovia Township
is Ed Quiram, who was born January 7,
1877. He became a local resident in March
1880. In 1905, he married Anna Laible,
who is now deceased. One daughter,
Esther (Mrs. Robert Thierer), and her
husband, make their home with him.

The oldest lady in Cazenovia Township
is Mrs. Jean (Asa) Sti\ers of Cazeno\ia,
bom in 1873.

Mr. and Mrs. OUver Rose have cele-
brated 67 wedding anniversaries, which is
more than most couples do. They came to
Washburn in 1944, both natives of Dahl-
gren, Illinois. They have ten living chil-
dren, all of whom have claimed Cazeno\ia
Township as their residence at some time
in the past. Mrs. Erscle (Jennie) Scriviier
and Mrs. Merrill (Ola) Kennedy live in

Woodford Countij JUstonj

this community. The Roses ha\e 27 grand-
children, numerous great grandchildren,
and one great-great-grandchild.

Township officers elected in 1965 for
four year terms were Arthur L. Garber,
supervisor; Grace Damerell, clerk; Robert
J. Tomlinson, assessor; MeKin Bachnian,
highwa>' commissioner; and Bett\' Ann
Fitschen, Kenneth Pelz and Ralph Whisler,
auditors.

The Washburn Bank

The Washburn Bank, Washburn's old-
est business institution, was founded by
F. N. Ireland in 1870.

In the summer of 1871, Mr. Ireland
bought a building and moved it from the
original part of town to the Fulton corner
on Jefferson Street. In this building M. S.
Fulton and Co. started a drug store and
Mr. Ireland was the "and Co." of the fimi.
The 7x20 foot bank room was in the back
part of the building.

In February, 1876, the banker bought
the present bank corner and built a two-
story building with a fireproof brick \ault.
This was the towTi's first brick building.
Here the banking business was conducted
until the big fire in June, 1887. A new safe,
with fireproof jacket was purchased.

In 1910, the bank mo\ed a few doors
south until the old building could be torn
down, and new quarters established and
opened March 26, 1911.

John H. Lesch was with the bank from
189S to 1911, when he died. Anna Buck-
ingham came to the bank in 1906 and re-
mained until ill health caused her retire-
ment about 30 years later. Clifford C. Ire-
land retired from the bank in 1909, to prac-
tice law. Clare T. Ireland was assistant
cashier, then cashier, until 1933, when he
became a federal bank examiner. F. N.
Ireland retired from acti^'e service in 1920,
and his son, Charles H. Ireland, became
bank president. He continued in that office
until his death in 1930, when Adolph Wolt-
zen succeeded him. Mr. Woltzen came to
the bank on April 1, 1912, and was a part-
ner from the time of his arrival. Present
officers are F. N. Ireland, president; N. C.

Cazenovia Township

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Logan, executive \ice-president; Mrs. F. N.
(Edith) Ireland is \'ice-pre.sident; F. N.
Ireland, Jr. (Jerry) is cashier; Mrs. Mary
Ann Jury is assistant cashier.

The Washburn Bank, oldest bank in
Woodford County, and one of the oldest
banks in the state, was operated as a pri-
\ate Ixuik until 1920, when it became a
State bank.

Other banks that have done business in
Cazeno\ia Township were the People's
Bank of Washburn ^\'hich organized in
June 1908 witii these officers: William G.
West, president; J. F. Shepard, \ice-presi-
dent; L. F. Shepard, cashier. It was
c;ipitahzed at $50,000 and was in operation
until 1930, when it sold its business to The
Washburn Bank.

Lowpoint had a bank \\hich was under
the roof of Banta Brothers and Compan\"s
store and nui b)' tiiem. It belonged to the
Bankers Association. In 1933, two weeks
before the bank moratorium, it closed its
doors.

Bachman Brothers in Cazeno\ia also did
some banking business.

Schools

The first school taught in Cazeno\ia
Township \\'as possibly the first free scliool
in the state of Illinois. In 1836, a school
district u'as formed which included an area
from Morsetowii to Loupoint and \\'est to
Bricktown. Captain Parker Morse, Re\'.
James Owen, and Mr. Thomas Jones were
interested in furthering education. School
was held alternately in the Owen home
and in the first schoolhouse, whicli was
built in 1838 near the Owen home. This
schoolhouse was of rough logs and had a
wood chimney made of sticks and mud.
Miss Lo\e K. Morse was the first teacher.
This was the first school paid for out of
the public fund in northern Illinois. Later,
the schoolhouse was mo\ed to Bricktown,
and then a few years after that across the
hollow. Other early teachers in the log
schoolhouse were George W. Taylor and
Joseph Perry. To replace this log school-
house, the first frame schoolhouse in the

Woodford County History

township was built at Bricktown on what
was then the Michael Wagner farm.

Over the years, more schools were built.
In 1846, on land donated by Henr\^ D.
Palmer, a Christian minister of Marshall
County, a one-room school \\-as built to
ser\e the Washburn area.

It is beliexed tliat Phillip H. Jenkins
built the first school building as he was
the onh' carpenter li\ing in Wa.shburn at
that time. The building stood near the
southeast corner of the school lot, facing
east. The room was 14x24 feet, with a 9 ft.
ceiling. A long wood sto\e in the middle
of the room, with pipe straight up into the
chimney, heated the room in the winter.
Wide wooden benches were the seats for
the pupils and against the wall was a shelf
and a blackboard upon which the children
did their writing and figuring. The room
had but one door, at the east, two windows
at the south and one to the north. Oak
siding and studding was used in the struc-
ture; shingles, doors, and door and window
frames were of walnut.

Not onh' did the building serve as an
educational institution, but it was used for
the preaching of the gospel and for many
other public meetings. In 1857, having
ser\ ed its purpose, the building was moved
southeast, into the edge of the street, to
make way for a new and larger school-
house. In January 1858, the old building
was purchased by Thomas H. Snell, who
mo\ed it to Lot 9. Block 9. Echol's Addi-
tion. He sold it to William Carson, who
sold it to Frederick Benecke, who later
sold it to Benjamin Schultz. Mr. Schultz
died soon after becoming the owner of the
propertN', but his widow lived there for 22
years. She finally sold it to Mrs. Elizabeth
Graber. It has passed through a number of
hands since the Graber family left Wash-
burn and is now part of the George Rink-
enberger home and is one of Washburn's
oldest homes.

In 1857, a larger school. 36x26 ft. took
its place, to be used until 1877 when the
Old Brick School (68x70 feet) replaced it.
The outmoded building, purchased by

Cazenovia Toimshii)

Robert C. McCuIlocli for $1.37.50. wa.s
moved south one l)l()ik to Block .5 of Mc-
CuUoch'.s Addition.

The Old lirick school had two .stories
and basement, and boasted an ornamental
bell tower. Its brick was trimmed with
stone. There were four classrooms, library,
lunchroom, cloakrooms and closets, and
spacious stairways and halKva\s. It was
weil-ligiited and had steam heat. The first
.session in it was held Jan. 2, 1877. In 1878,
141 males and 114 females were in attend-
ance; of these, 17 were tuition pupils. There
was also a pri\ate school, taught by Hc\ .
Ledebur. with 22 pupils.

The first high school class was graduated
in 1884, while Edward Bangs \\^as princi-
pal. Graduates were Lilla Fulton. Meta-
niora; E\a Hutchison (Hlackmou); l-^lla
Hess, Charles H. Ireland, Emma Younger
(De\'ault). Josephine Eraser (Holman).
all of Washburn; and (k'orge C.'oen of
Cazenovia.

In 1887, the school was so crowded tluit
the Ta)lor house, on the southwest corner
of the present grade scliool property, was
rented and the prim;ir\ department occu-
pied it until tlie Methodist meeting place
was purchased in 1S9(), to be used as the
primary' school.

.•\ high sclioo! district was formed in
1915. A new high school building was be-
gun in 1916 on land at the east end of
Walnut Street, Henr\ H. Lesch and Co.
receiving the contract for a bid of $.32,700.

In 1923. a new Washlnuii grade school
was voted to replace Old Brick, and in
1925 this new building was completed. As
school populations increased, the schools
to house tliem e.\p;mded \\ ith iidditions.

A plat of the township shows these
schools in the township in 1949: Wash-
burn, Section 1; Columbia, Section 6;
Coen. Section 9; Webster, Section 11; Low-
point. Section 22; Oak Dell ( Saddlestreet ),
Section 28; Bricktown, Section 18; F'air-
view. Section 25; .•\lcott. Section 31; Caze-
novia, Section .33.

The C^olumbia School clos<'d and sent its
pupils to Washburn. Tiie Coen, Webster,

Oak Dell, Bricktown, I-'airview. Ojcott, anil
Cazenovia operated until consolidation in-
to much larger districts and were iibsorbed
b\- .\Ietamora and Lowpoint-W;ishl)urn in
1952. A few years lati'r. the buildings ;md
contents, not in use b\ the ni'w districts,
were .sold at public auction. Some became
homes and were restyled. The Columbia
school, remodeled by Joseph Garber, be-
came a favorite picnic area and meeting
place. The Eairview school, with its fine
hardwood floors, became a hog pen. while
others were used for grain storage.

The first frame school in Low point w;is
built between the railroad tracks ;nul the
cemetery. It was later mo\i'd east acro.ss
the tnicks and to the south side of Clark
stri'ct, and is presentK' owned by the Merle
Hardmans. .A fine two-room brick school
on S. Madison Street was erectetl in 1906.
High school work was introduced under
Harry Andrews, princip;d. This building
was remodeled ;uid ;uldcd to in 1921 and
then became the grade school. ,\ larger
high school was built in 1916 and remod-
eled in 19.36 with a gymnasium and more
classroom space added.

With consolidation into the Lowpoint-
Wasiiburn Community- Unit, the high
school moycd to Washb\uii ;uul the junior
high occupied the high school building
until the enrollment outgrcyy those quar-
ters and moycd into ;i neyv addition north
of tlu' Wiisliburn High School. Loyy point
Grade School then moyfti its third, fourth,
fifth, iind sixth grades into the vacated
building. The first and second gnidcs had
moved into neyv (juarters south of the gyiu
a feyy years before. In M;ncli. 196S, tot;d
enrollment in Loyy point-Washburn schools
numbered 716 pupils. There yvere 43 in
kindergiuten. 143 in Loyvpoint Cinide, 222
in Washburn CIrade, 11.3 in Junior High
(grades 7 and 8) and 195 in high school.

I'uture I^irmers of .Americ;!. the I'nture
Homeiuakers of .\merica. and the Student
Council ;ne ;miong the acting organizations
in the high school. Washburn F.F..\. Chap-
ter was chartered Oct. 17, 1929. with 15
members. D, L. Moore yvas the vocational

agriculture instructor. This chapter has
been proud to ha\e one of its members,
Lynn Luible, ser\e as state F.F.A. presi-
dent. Present advisor is Dale Humbert,
and Jim Laible is president. This year
there are 40 F.F.A. members in the Low-
point-Washburn Chapter.

The Home Economics Club, organized
in 1939, became a chapter of the national
organization of Future Homemakers of
America in 1946. This year there are 50
members. Officers are Martha Spangler,
president, Jane Cook, secretary, Cheryl
Zoss, treasurer. A ten-year-old foreign boy,
Faw Kwai Ping of China, has been adopted
this year by Lowpoint-Washburn F.H.A.

The Student Council, organized in Sep-
tember, 1958, has thirteen members.

Cazenovia Township Churches

Church services were first held in the
homes of the early settlers. After a school
house was built, church ser\ ices were held
there. The first sermon in the townsliip was
preached by Rev. James Owen, a Baptist.

The first Sunday School was organized
by Parker Morse in 1S37, at his own house
in the Lowpoint settlement. In 1849-50, on
land near Simeon MundelFs home, the
Baptists built a church, using lumber
sawed by Jenkins' saw mill. In 1873, on
land gi\'en by Mary Farns\\'orth, the Bap-
tist congregation of 115 members built a
church in Cazenovia (see Cazenovia Vil-
lage) and the old, first church was then
converted into a barn by Simeon Mundell.

In 1853, the Associate Reformed (later
United Presbyterian) Church Society or-
ganized, with Rev. McClenahan the first
Presbyterian minister in the township. In
1857, 80 members built a brick church a
mile east of Lowpoint. This congregation
later moved to Washburn.

The Old School Presbyterians built a
frame church a mile and a half from Low-
point a few years after the United Presby-
terians, and in 1878 had a congregation of
about 70 members. This building was a
mile east and a half mile south of Low-
point, on the east side of the road. It was
later moved into Lo\\point; the motive

Woodford County Histonj

power supplied by a number of teams of
horses. It is used for an implement shed;
being located west of the garage now
operated by Mr. Gay.

Evangelical Salem Church
At Black Partridge

At one time, there was a settlement
about three miles north of Hanover. There
James Bo\s, in 1836, established the first
post office in Woodford County. His home
was used as the office wliicli was called
Black Partridge, after an old Indian chief.
A long church lay to the south of the Meta-
mora-Cazeno\'ia township line. It was in
this church that John Bolander and Mar\-
Wagner were married. This uas the Ger-
man Evangehcal Church. Later, a frame
church was built just north of this ceme-
tery in Cazenovia township. It was called
Evangelical Salem Church at Black Part-
ridge. It was served by ministers Fred
Schwartz. Re\-. Theis, Re\-. Gronewald,
Rev. Bauscher, Rev. John Bauerle, Rev.
Wesley Stauffer, and Re\-. Aaron Good.
The cliurch closed in 1925.

German Evangelical Church

Earliest a\'ailable information regarding
the German Evangelical Church of Wash-
bum, the congregation of which has long
since been disbanded, is that the church
edifice was built in 1877.

Methodist Church

The history of local churches of the
central west is difficidt to trace through
pioneer times and still be sure of an un-
broken connection between the then and
the now. It is easier to sa>^ that religious
services were held b\' this or that group of
people in this or that school house or
private home or store or carpenter shop.

We find that as far back as 1837 there
were notations of the baptism of people,
hereabout, who were the ancestors of
members of the present day Washburn
Methodist Church. They had standing as
members in what \\'as known as the Mar-
shall County Circuit, but they were mem-
bers of "classes" before the\' were enrolled
in any designated local chinch.

Cazenovki Tdtnisliij)

Tliis status coiiliiiuccl dxcr a period of
about 20 \eais. or until IS56. The names
of Harius, Boss, (.'onihes. Hall, I looser,
IlollcTihcck, Iliff, Owen, l\'rr\- and Shugart
— names more or less familiar to \\ ashhuru
people of toda\ — appear in the records of
those da\s or in references of later record.s
to older records that have disappeared.
Preachiui; places included Marshall (.'hap-
cl, Harris school house. Phelps (.'hapel, and
Bell Plain school house. Ii] the later years
of this period the "To\ W'anon Shop" — in
a placi' known as Uniontoun or Mantua,
and finalK' \\'aslil)urn — was ed<j;cd into tiie
Marshall C,"ount\ tjroups of meetinti places.
It is certain that others of the famiK' names
were originalK associated with meetiuij;
places like Phelps Chapel and Bell Plain
school house.

Sometime around (he year lS")fi tlic peo-
ple of the T()\- Shop y;roup or "class" not a
pr(>aclu'r, from a \ illage that had l)(>en
known as Hano\cr until it was changed to
Metamora. to come and pr(-ach for them
on summer cMMiings. This preachers name
was Morse: unable to find his name in the
ri'cords of conterenci^ membership, the
probability is that he was a "local" preach-
er. Howe\er, in the fall of that same \ear,
1S56, this Washburn "class" was attached
as a regular preachiTig point to a preadi-
ing "circuit" in the Wasliington District,
which evidenth included both Woodford
and Marshall counties along with Taze-
well, and probabK many other counties.
From this time on it had idcntit\ as a local
church, and though attached, sometimes to
one "circuit", sometimes to another, all
these "circuits" began in the \\'ashington
"District".

It might be well to e.xplaiu thai (he "Toy
Wagon Shop", at the northwest corner of
Main and Clhnrch Streets, wher<' this
church was first organized, was not a shop
where to\ wagons were made, but was a
shop where farm wagons were built, and
was owned and operated bv a man uauK>d
Ton-.

Some ol the mci'tings were held in this
shop, some were held in the local school
house and soTue in the iiaptist (ihurch.

which in the spirit of brotherhood, sur-
prising for that day, was loaned to the
.Methodists. In 1S6'3, while cixil war was
raging, the people of this church, under
the leadership of a "local" preacher, built
their first church house. It still stands on
its original site, at the corner of Woodford
and okl Main Streets, but it is minus its
towi-r. .\fter the congregation had remoxed
to the sit(> of the present church, in 1S90,
it was sold to be us(>d as a school house,
and has since become a dwelling house,
occupied by .Mr. and Mrs. Tim DcBolt.

As has been said, in 1890 thi' present site
was selected and a new frame building,
costing $5,000, w as erected to meet a grow-
ing congregation and communit\' need.
Thirteen years later that building burned'
to the ground, and the present handsome-
edifice was erected at a cost of over $9,000'.

The present parsonage was built in 1894,
but was added to in 1911, at which time
also the pipe organ was installed in the
church and the bell from the old Bell Plain
or Pattonsburg church was hung in the
church belfr\': these later impro\ements
came with the sale of the Pattonsburg
church, which had been a part of the later
Washburn "circuit .

On the occasion of tlu> miion of the tliree
branches of Methodism in 1939, the t\pe
of women's organizations changed. From
the different missionary organizations, the
present Woman's Socictx- of flhristian Serv-
ice was begun, which includes all women's
activities. This is the largest organization?,
of women in the world and the\- ha\c done
remarkable things for the church. Officers;
for the local WSCS are Mrs. William Bell,
president; Mrs. Lyle Held, \ice president;
Mrs. Jay Laible, secretar\-; and Mrs. Den-
zel Emery, treasurer.

In November 1964, the Reverend Waller
Krech became the pastor when the churcln
formed a >oke-field imnistr\ w ith the Low-
point Evangelical United Brethren Church.
The highest membership of the church was
306; ;ilthough its present membership is
onl\ 253, the congregation's .spirit and atti-
tude is one of optimism.

■8

Washburn United Presbyterian Church

Early in the liistory of Presbyterianism
the Church divided into se\ eral organiza-
tions, hence we had the Old School New
School, Reformed, Associate Reformed,
Cumberland Presbyterian and Covenant-
ers. They all accepted and recognized the
Westminster Confession of faith as their
standard, but owing to a slight difference
in intei-pretation they divided into these
different bodies.

On November 3, 1854, a group of people
of the Associate Refonued faith met, or-
ganizing a church of that denomination
which was called the Associate Reformed
Church of Lowpoint, Illinois. A church
building was erected some two and one-
half miles south of Washburn, known as
the Brick Church.

In 1858 througli the action of their gen-
eral assembly, the Associate Reformed and
Reformed churches united under the name
of United Presbyterian. On the union of
the two bodies in 1858, the congregation
here became the United Presbyterian
Church of Lowpoint. On their organiza-
tion, the Church called Rev. P. H. Drennen
as pastor.

Among the charter members were James
Piper and wife; J. M. McCulloch and wife;
Robert McCulloch and wife; Charles F.
McCulloch; James Wright and wife;
George Johnson and wife; Archibald IIol-
ferty and wife; William Drennen and wife;
Samuel Beard and wife; Mrs. Sunderland
and two daughters; John M. Pinkerton and
wife; John Bayne and wife; William Car-
son and wife; Hugh, Joseph C, Alexander,
Batey, Elizabeth and Belle Carson; S. D.
Wilson and wife; Jared Irwin and wife and
two daughters, Mary Jane and Magdalene,
who later became respectively Mrs. Hess
and Mrs. Weede.

During the Civil War and just before, a
number of families moved in, which added
to the membership. On the organization of
the Church, they occupied the old log
school house, which stood just west of the
Lowpoint Methodist Episcopal Church, as
a place of worship. This they continued to

Woodford County History

occupy until they built a house of worship
in 1859 known as the "Brick Church," just
one mile east of the present \illage of Low-
point, on land later owned by Valentine
Garber. This church was dedicated in De-
cember, 1859, Doctor Wallace, President
of Monmouth College, preaching the dedi-
cation sermon.

As the membership had shifted to the
north in the neighborhood of Washburn,
the congregation decided as a matter of
conxenience to sell the old church and re-
build in Washburn on lots one and two.
Block 3, Blacks Addition, presented by
Mr. John M. Black and his wife, Laura,
and to change the name to the United
Presbyterian Church of Washburn.

The old brick church was sold in 1892
and also the two and one-half acres on
which it was located (a few gra\es were
on this land), and the congregation built
a parsonage, which was remodeled in 1916.
The German Reformed Church services
in the German language were conducted
by Rev. Kerker from about 1865, for Re-
formed, Lutheran, and Catholic settlers.
These were held in a church which faced
Main Street and was located just north of
the present Washburn Grade School, on
the west part of the lot owned b>^ John
Schroud. (The Catholics later built their
own church, in 1882.) The Lutherans
formed their congregation in 1877. Rev.
Krebs preached for both Reformed and
Lutheran congregations. The first minister
for the Reformed congregation alone was
Rev. Esselborn. The two congregations
then alternated Sunday services in the
church until the Lutheran congregation
in 1893 bought the building fonnerly used
by the Baptists and thereupon moved.

The Reformed parsonage burned, and
while it was being rebuilt, the pastor
stayed with the John Moschel, Sr. family.
Among early names in the Reformed con-
gregation were Hofstatter, Kanive, Koch,
Laible, Lesch, Moschel, Schall, Schroeder,
Schwartz, Stauter, and Wagner.

In 1918, when church union l)etween
the German Reformed and United Presby-
terian congregations became an accom-

Cazoioiiu Toinislii))

plislu'd fact, 45 iiRinbers dropped tlic Ger-
man Hefornifd name and became United
Preslnterians, and Rev. Steinmet/ l)ecame
pastor of the United eliiireli. Hotli 1U'\ . and
Mrs. Steinmet/ were mnsicall) inclined.
and directed and produced pla\ s in tlie
Opera Hou.se for the enjo\ nunt ol tlie
comninnit\'.

The United I'resln terian laches liatl been
acti\c in the chmch for \ cars with their
Missionary Society. The (ierman Heformed
ladies brought with them their Ladies Aid;
which had been reorganized in 1915 l>\ the
ladies of both congregations. Charter mem-
bers still acti\e are Mrs. l':lmer Fea/el and
Mrs. W in. Fea/el. Later church union na-
tionalK- decreed that all were to be United
Presbyterian Women henceforth. Present
officers are Mrs. William Ingold. President;
Mrs. John Damerell, \'ice- President; Mrs.
Cabin .McCully. Secretary; Mrs. Elmer
Feazel, Literature Secretary; and Mrs.
Nelson lunker. Treasurer.

The Men's Club was formi'd in 1940
nntler the leadership of Ray Gardner. Pres-
ent officers are Calvin McC^ulK. President;
William Ingold. \ice-President; lirscle
Scrivner. Treasurer; Ralph Laible. Secre-
tar\.

In 1938 Marie Shafer was elected church
treasurer, a position of trust she has ca-
pably fulfilled for the past thirty years. The
Reverend Perr\- Tudor is th(^ present pas-
tor.

Over the years, two sons of the con-
gregation. Frank McKee and \\illiam E.
McCuUoch becanii' ministers, and two
daughters, .\gnes Robinson and Zilhih
McC^ulloch became ministers' wi\es. John
and Lowell McConnell, sons of Rev. Mc-
Connell; and Paul and Dwight Zeller, .sons
of Re\-. Zeller, became ministers or mis-
sionaries. Jane Laible married John Morris
and entered the home mission field. .\
teacher. Miriam I)a\idson. who worshiped
with this congregation, left Washburn to
become a missionary. More recently. Miss
MariKn Kopp, another teacher who served
in this congregation, entered the Peace
Corps. Charles Doak. son of (icorge and
Lois Doak. became a minister.

History of St. Elizabeth's Parish

The congregation of St. F.li/abeth's
church, then known as an out-mission, was
established in 1878 with permission of
Bishop John Lanca.ster Spanlding of Peoria,
mider the snper\ision and direction of Rev.
P. .\ngclus, O.M.C., a Franciscan mission-
ary, assistant pastor of St. Mary's church in
Metamora. Many of the pioneer members
of this congregation had been driving with
their families in lumber wagons to attend
mass at Lomdes. Metamora. or Lacon. A
building conmiittee was appointed, con-
sisting of Benedict Aicher, Sr., Martin Daly
(Seralyn's grandfather). Frank Lilly, and
Hubert Adami (grandfather of present
.\dami descendants). Land was purchased
from Samuel D. Wilson at the corner of
Jefferson and Magnolia Streets and a cor-
nerstone laid in 1879. Financial depression
dela>ed completion of the building and it
was not dedicated until 1882. Others
among those early members were l^a\id
Knoblauch. John Daub. Alex Daub, Victor
.\dami. Edward Monahan, Thomas Daly,
Wm. Dal\. James Dab'. John Dunlevy,
Binnett Shafer. and John P. Letz. Because
Mr. ;md Mrs. Hubert Adami were espe-
cialK generous, the parish named the
church "St. Elizabeth", in honor of Mrs.
Elizabeth .'\dami.

The Capuchin Order, a branch of the
Franciscan Order, had charge of the parish
from the founding of this church until
1S95. Since that year the parish has been
undc-r the charge of the I-'rancisean Order
— Order of Friars Minor, (Cincinnati Pro\-
ince). Records of St. Elizabeth's show that
the first baptism was that of Josephine
.\icher, daughter of Benedict and C^rescen-
cia Eberle Aicher, on May 12, 1878, by Rev.
P. Angelus, O.M.C. The first marriage was
that of Joseph Heitz. son of Selig and
Frances Ckninan Heitz, to Rosa Kinkel. on
|;m. 11, 1S87. Witnesses were John Guy-
man and Anna Quast. The ceremony was
performed 1)\ Rev. P. Nhircus. O.NLC. The
first funeral was that of Rosa LilK', daugh-
ter of Frank and Jane Smith Lilly, on Nov.
23, 1880, Re\. P. Jacob, O.M.C, officiated.

In 1946, lightning struck the spire of the
churcli and fire broke out in the belfry and
adjacent areas causing considerable dam-
age. The church was repaired, but the
bells, one originally donated by Mrs.
Bridget Monahan and the other, donated
jointly by John P. Letz and Bennett Shafer,
^^■ere placed on the inacti\e list upon de-
.struction of the church spire.

On the morning of Dec. 17, 195S, a fire
gutted 76-year old St. Elizabeth's Church.
The congregation, salvaging what they
could, removed to the Social Center, which
had been erected on a 6.2 acre lot, pur-
chased from C. L. Jury in 1949, when
Father Herculan was pastor. Here services
were held until the new .$110,000 limestone
structure could he completed. The corner-
stone was laid in Sept. 1959, and on Sun-
day, Oct. 23, 1960 Bishop John B. Frantz
officiated and Father Andrew Fox, O.F.M.,
Vice Provincial of the Cincinnati Province,
celebrated the Solemn Mass. The bells
•were again hung and ring out daily. At
that time. Father Conradin Burtschy,
O.F.M. was the pastor; the present pastor
is Father Meinrad Issler, O.F.M.

A Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes,
blessed and dedicated on August 2, 1959;
the Social Center; and the beautiful new
church, are all located on the same lot.

Organizations connected with this parish
are: St. Josephs Altar Society, organized in
1897 by Fr. Sigismund Pirron, O.F.M.,
which existed until September, 1904. It
was not until No\'. 1947 that 14 members
met, elected a new slate of officers, and
made plans to fulfill the objectixes origi-
nally set forth in 1894. The St. Elizabeth's
Altar Society of 1894 comprised 9 mem-
bers. The 1947 officers were: Mrs. Earl
Glaub, president; Mrs. Ed Knoblauch, vice
president; Mrs. Henry Krueger, secretary
and treasurer, and Mrs. S. G. Deans, pub-
licity chairman. As of Feb. 196S, it had an
enrollment of 40 nu'mbers. The 1968 of-
ficers are Mrs. Ra\ luond Meister, presi-
dent; Miss Rita Buchanan. \ice president;
Mrs. Carl Tomlinson, secretary and Mrs.
Norman Zook, treasurer.

The Third Order Secular of St. P'rancis

Woodford County Histonj

( Order of Penance ) formally erected a fra-
ternity at St. Elizabeth's Church April 23,
1950, with Fr. Herculan KoHnski, O.F.M.
as the first spiritual director. It began with
a membership of 22, at one time had 35,
but at present has 20 members. Officers are
Richard Dubois, Prefect; Marie Deans,
■Vice Prefect; Rita Buchanan, secretar\- and
Mary Jane Dubois, treasurer.

The Catholic Youth Organization has a
membership of 22 youths. The 1968 officers
are Michael Kelly, president; Terry Holm,
vice president and Sharon Zook, secretar}'
and treasurer.

On Sept. 7, 1951, a group of Catholic
men of St. Ehzabeth's parish met to organ-
ize a society known as the Men's Society
of St. Elizabeth parish. It began with a
membership of 36, has a present enroll-
ment of 40, and is called Holy Name So-
city. Officers are Donald Scrivner, presi-
dent; Gene Fuchs, vice president; Melvin
Bobbins, secretary and .\nthon\' Beltramea,
treasurer.

A Solemn First Mass, the first of its kind
e\er held at Washburn, celebrated on June
IS, 1961, the eIe\ation to priesthood of
Fr. Ephrem (John) Beltramea, O.F.M.
Re\. Conradin Burtschy, O.F.M., pastor
of St. Elizabeth's, ser\ed as master of cere-
monies. Fr. Ephrem was the first priest to
be ordained from St. Elizabeth's parish in
its 79 Near historv".

St. John's Lutheran Church

As far back as 1865 the Germans lixing
in and near Washburn gathered together
for the purpose of holding preaching serv-
ices. These services were preached in the
German language in the old church in the
northwest part of town, \\hich was later
used as a house of worship b\' the denomi-
nation called the German Reformed. At
this time denominational lines were not
obser\ed. All German settlers, whether
Reformed. Lutheran or Catholic, wor-
shiped together.

In 1877 the Lutheran families of Wash-
Inun organized an independent Lutheran
organization and in early September of
that year were successful in securing a

Cazenovid TounsJiip

pastor, Re\'. F. Ledi'liur. w lio sti\td three
years.

For a time pastors ot the La Rose ehureli
had cliarge of the services in Washburn
chureh as regularK- as was possilile, and
when impossible tor them to preach to the
congregation, some member of the churcli
conducted the services and read a sermon
by some Lutheran author. A number of
enthusiastic teacliers willingly instructed
the children in the fundamentals of the
faith.

In 1884 the He\-. J. D. Ehlen ])rcame
pastor of the W'ashburn-W'enona charges,
preaching on alternate Sundays. Sunda\-
School was conducted every Sunday and
reading services were continued on those
Sundays when the pastor was at his place
in the W'enona pulpit. In 1890, when Rev.
George Hempfing first came to Washburn.
both the Lutheran and German Reformed
congregation were using the same house
of worship, but in 1893 the Lutherans pur-
chased the building formerly used by the
Baptists, pa\'ing for it the sum of $350. A
number of improvements were added to
the building's interior at the time of its
purchase, and again in 1898 \\hen it was
further remodeled, a tower was built and
a bell installed.

The parsonage at 21.^ W. Woodford
Street, now occupied li\- retired Rev.
Clock was built in 1914, previous to call-
ing Rev-. Ernest Duever. It was during his
pastorate that the Lutheran Young Peo-
ples' Society was organized with a mem-
bership of 25. In November 1916, Pastor
Duever organized the Lutheran Da\'
School with an enrollment of 21 children.
This school was conducted in the former
public school building for primary grades,
which had been purchased by the Luth-
eran congregation for that pui-pose. The
day school was discontinued in May, 1928.

The constant growth of the congrega-
tion brought about the consideration of a
new and larger church edifice. The old
building purchased in 1893 was much in
need of repair, so after serving for almost
fifty years as house of worship, for enter-
tainments, and for funeral rites of inanv

of WasJihurn's earlier settlers, the old
ehureh was doomed to destruction, and a
new- building on the sam(> site was con-
sidered. However, John A. Filseiien do-
nated the new site at the corner of (Hiurch
and Jefferson streets to the congri'gation.
The last service in the old ehureh was
held May 14, 1922 and a few davs later
vvDrkinen began wrecking the building,
that its better lumber could be used in the
construction of the new ch'ueh. The
church, fully equipped, cost $13,753.98.
December 17, 1922 saw the couipletion
of the building and dedication services
were held. In June, 1927, the members of
St. John's celebrated the fiftieth anniver-
sary of the congregation.

On Nov-. 12, 1902, fourteen ladies of the
congregation organized a Ladies Aid So-
ciety. At present only one of these charter
members, Mrs. Anna Wilts, remains. There
are 39 members. Officers are: Mrs. John
H. Fitschen, President; Mrs. James Quirani.
Vice-President; Mrs. Lawrence Janssen,
Secretary, and Mrs. Milton Koch. Treas-
urer.

On March S, 1922, the Lutheran Men's
Club, guided by Pastor Sonnner, was
formed with over 30 members. In 1931 it
joined the National Lutheran Lav man's
League. Its membership at present is
twenty-five. Officers are: Kenneth Pelz,
president; Harold Heimsoth, vice-presi-
dent; Leland Heck, secretary, and Rev-.
Ernest Clock, treasurer.

The Young People's Society, organized
with a])out 25 members on Jan. 14, 1915.
Present officers are: James Swanson, Presi-
dent; Shirley Schumacher, \'ice-President;
Willa Winkler, Secrctarv-, and Douglas
Bammann, Treasurer.

Rev. and Mrs. Ernest Clock had three
little boys when they came to Wash])urn
in 1928. These children grevv^ up and fol-
lowed their father in the ministry: Prof.
.Mbert Clock, who teaches at River Forest
College, River Forest; The Rev. Delmar
Clock is assistant director of the Lutheran
Hour in St. Louis; and the Rev. Richard
Clock is pastor of Our Redeemer church
in Creen Bav-, Wisconsin.

Woodford County History

Re\-. Ernest Clock retired after 43 years
in the ministry, having served St. Johns
Lutheran Churcli for 38 years and the
Trinity congregation in La Rose for 32
years. He has been vacancy pastor at
Roanoke, Secor, Eureka, Wenona, Chenoa,
and Lexington, and served as visiting pas-
tor of the Bloomington Zone.

In 1961, an annex was l)uilt to the
church, containing classrooms and an of-
fice for the pastor. This annex was dedi-
cated on May 21, 1961.

In 1967 it was decided that the congre-
gation would build a new parsonage at
111 Church Street near the church edifice.
Pastor Ronald Schultz, who succeeded
Pastor Clock upon his retirement, mo\ed
into the new parsonage with his faniih' in
February of this year 1968.

Washburn Christian Church

Washburn Christian Church came into
being as a distinct congregation in late
June of 1864. No written records of any
congregational or board meetings are now
available and later records ha\e many
gaps.

The organization of this church followed
a successful "protracted meeting" held in
the Baptist Church building on Main
Street by one David Sharpies. Sliarples
was an evangelist sponsored by the "Wood-
ford County Cooperation", one of several
such groups organized by Illinois Disciples
for more eflecti\'e work. Man\- of the
charter members of the infant church were
formerly adherents of tlie Salem Church
whose church building was located about
seven miles northwest of Washburn.

This Salem Church was organized on
June 12, 1836 in the home of Nathan and
Elizabeth Owen at the foot of the hill be-
low what is still known as Salem Cemetery.
The covenant they formed was signed by
Nathan and Elizabeth Owen, Elder Henry
D. Palmer and Pats\' Palmer, his wife;
Isaac Black; Wm. Maxwell and wife; James
Ledgerwood, and Mary R. Ledgerwood;
Robert Bennington and wife; Robert,
Daniel and Thomas Owen; Lynn Hend-
ricks; Mordecai Bane and wife; Elizabeth

Boon; W. P. Carrithers and wife, and many
others. Time passed, and the remnants of
this congregation formed a nucleus for the
Washburn Christian Church. Among them
were "Old Sister Carrithers"; James Ledg-
erwood and wife; "Sister Clell Harper"
( daughter of Nathan Owen ) ; Pleasant Ire-
land and his wife Matilda; James Owen
and wife; Simeon Linn, wife and daughter.
Others of the .30 charter members came
from a group that had been worshipping at
the Vernon School house: Sister Burnham;
Garrett Worth; James West and wife;
"Aunt Betsy" Black; Thos. L. Pickerell and
wife; Elias Fisher and wife.

For most of the first three years the in-
fant church worshipped in the Baptist
Church building at the corner of Main and
Church streets, at the northwest comer
of the Baptist Cemetery. At times it seems
to have been necessary to use the facilities
of the German Reformed Church, about
three blocks further north on Main Street.

In 1S67 the congregation decided to
erect their own church house. A lot was
procured, and during the summer, fall and
winter the structure was built. It was dedi-
cated in February 1868. There they wor-
shipped and taught until 1890, Nvhen the
building was moved to its present site, im-
proved, and rededicated just before Christ-
mas, 1890. Additional improvements were
made over the years, including the con-
struction of a new parsonage in 1909. The
new educational plant and combined
chapel and church parlor were built and
dedicated in 1961. In October 1964 the
church celebrated its first 100 \ears of
service.

Thirty-two men have served Washburn
Christian Church as regularly called minis-
ters; the first was the Reverend John L.
McCune. The present minister is the Rev-
erend F. Gwynne Cook. Four sons of this
chin-ch became ministers of Disciple
churches — L. B. Pickerill, Stephen E.
Fisher, Charles Richards, and Gilbert
Gish; another son, Charles Myers, is an
effective Methodist minister in Indiana.

The current membership of the church
is 290.

Cazenovia Township
Lowpoint E.U.B. Church

Lowpoint Mission was organized in the
Spring ot 1921 with Rc\-. J. E. \\'iclmer.
pastor. Charter nieinhers of tliis cliurcli
wiTe the Daniel Kiet hiniil\. Mrs. Anna
Abel and daugliters. Mr. and Mrs. lien j.
Sehneider. Mr. and Mrs. Rndy Attig. Mrs.
Amanda Baker. Thelnia .\ttig, and the
family of the pastor, Rew J. E. Widnier.
Three trustees. A. L. Banta, Daniel Kief,
and Ben J. Selmieider were elected at the
first offieial meeting. April 13, 1922. A
huilding eonunittee of nine included the
abo\e trustees and Frank Banta. Da\id
Call. Nelson Crawford. Ed Mundell. W'm.
C. Stauter and Re\ . J. E. W'idmer. Mr. and
Mrs. A. D. Banta's olfer of two lots ojijii)-
site the high school for the site of the new
church was accepted and Dan Kiefs plan
for the nt-w church was agreed upon. The
church built b\ Dan Kief and A. L. Banta,
was dedicated June 21. 1925, with \V. A.
Stauffer, pastor. .\t this time tlii're were 62
members, and man\ more who supported
the chmch. The Ladies .\u.xiliar\ worked
nobh from 192.3 to 1940 to help pa\ the
indebtedness incurred in building the
church. One of the most memorabk' proj-
ects came in the late twenties when thresh-
ing dinners were ser\ed in the church
basement. Threshing crews came at stated
hours for their dinners, as man\' as 9 nms
being fed from 11:00 to 1:00. This annual
project continued until combines replaced
threshing machines as a method of grain
har\'est. The Ladies .Au.xiliary continued as
the Women's Society for Christian Ser\ice.

I'or many years the congregation shared
a minister with Metamora Christian Union,
and later with the Spring Bay Evangelical
United Brethren. In Nov. 1946. the merg-
ing of the Evangelical C'hurch with the
Church of the United Brethren in ('hrist
brought some changes in the Church Dis-
cipline as well as a change in name, to the
Exangelical Uniti'd Brethren Commumtx
Church of Lowpoint. Illinois,

There are (S3 members of the present
E.U.B. Methodist parish. It is now a yoke
field with Washburn Methodist C^hurch.

Re\. Walter Krech is minister for both
congregations.

On tlu' Sunda\ morning ot JuK 9, 1967,
tlu- junior High class of the Sunday School
buried a time capsule which included
e\er\thing from a Bible to teen fashions,
pictiuc's of the class, and other things of
interest to them. The capsule, built by
Ralph Whisler. Sundax School Superin-
tendent, is to be opened in the \ear 2()()(),
A.D.

Cazenovia (N'iUage)

On Dec. 10, 1S35, the United States of
America ga\e possession of (SO acres in
Sections 2iS and 33 to Daniel B. and Mar>'
y. Price of Jessamine Count)', Kentucky,
who later sold it to Jesse Hanuners and
wife, Ruah. On May 30, 1<S70, Jesse Ham-
mers ga\e possession to W. O. Hanuners
(a .son by his first wife, Eleanor Bucking-
ham) and wife, Julia. On September 26,
1870, by order of E. N. Farnsworth and
W. O. Hammers, the plot that was to be
the town of Cazeno\ia was sin\eyed by
D. H. Davison, Woodford Count\' sur-
veyor, and laid out in blocks and lots.
Cazenovia occupies 20 acres of the .south-
east corner of Section 28, 19 acres of the
northeast corner of Section 33, and about
8 acres belonging to what was formerh' the
western division of the Chicago and Alton
Railroad.

John Hamilton, a brother ot .Mrs. Isaac
Boys, was the first station agent. The post
office was established in 1(S70 with W. O.
Hammers as postmaster. In 1871, W. O.
Hammers and Co. built a grain elevator,
29x40 ft., 32 ft from ground to eaves, at a
cost of S4.000. It could hold 15.000 bushels
and was operated b\- horsepower. In time,
it burned and was replaced b\- the picsent
structiuc. The first grocer\- store was
opened in March. LS71, b\- Wikoil and
Bowcn. L;iter. a brick building, containing
the general store of the Speas Brothers,
occupied this site. Nick Portman, of Meta-
mora, started the first dry goods store, in a
building owned by E. N. Farnsworth,
W. O. Hammers, and Richard Tanton. The

first l)lacksmith shop was owiied by I. J.
Kise, \\'ho had come from Virginia in 1870.

In 1878, there was a general store, kept
b\' Samuel Amsler; wagon and blacksmith
siiop, by G. W. Clingman; harness shop, by
Jesse Hammers; and shoe shop, by G. W.
Baden. The Bachman brothers owned the
hardware and implement business, includ-
ing a harness shop, housed in a large brick
building. Later, Henry Bachman owned
the first car in Cazenoxia.

Mrs. Mary Robertson, had charge of a
grocery store next to the post office and
telephone exchange (both in the same
building) with Helen Hare and Pearl
Clingman in tlie post office and at the
switchboard. Another store at the other
end of the block was run by Dennis Sny-
der, then by Al Bobbins, and finally by the
Mackie family until it burned. The Soren-
sons had a small store on Route 89; later,
Ernest Broers had the last store in Caze-
no\'ia. At one time Fred Weiland had a
hotel building between the two stores, but
this burned.

At present there is an elevator used for
drying and storing grain, and a garage run
by Bernard Foster, a grandson of Henry
Foster and great-grandson of Jeter Foster,
one of the early settlers. There is a small
post office, with Eulah Bachman the post-
mistress.

The first house put up after the town
was laid out was of stone, on Lot 5 of
Block 12 on State Street. W. O. Hammers
owned the lots and home until No\\ 1,
1874, when he sold it to George Clingman,
who owned it until .\pril 4, 1913, when he
deeded it to his son Clarence C. and wife
Mary H. Aug. 20, 1919, Clarence and Mary
Clingman sold the house and 5 lots to
Mark J. Ranney of Metamora, who at that
time purchased it for John E. Zoss, a
minor, to whom it was deeded by Mr.
Ranne\' on Nov. 29, 1920, when he became
21. Mr. Zoss, a native of Switzerland, had
come to Cazenovia Township in June, 1904
and has spent most of his life here. Mr.
and Mrs. Zoss remodeled the house, 1960-
1961.

Another of the old houses in Cazeno\ia

Woodford Coiinfij Ilistonj

is that just south of the John E. Zoss home.
Formerly occupied by the John Broers
family, it is now the home of the Collins
family.

West of the present Route 89, which
runs through Cazeno\'ia, is the site of the
two-story house which served as a "light
house" in the early days when the roads
were more like unmarked trails. This was
the highest point between Metamora ( then
called Hanover) and Washburn. A light
was kept burning in the attic at night to
serve as a guide to east and west roads.
This was on the Peter Durst farm, back of
the house later built by Peter Durst.

The school house was built in 1858, long
before the birth of Cazenovia. The average
attendance was 30 pupils and Miss Edith
Ba\'ne was the teacher. This structure
burned and a second one was built in 1907.
The average attendance was 20 pupils.
After schools consolidated in 1952 the
building was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Ray-
mond Montgomery and family who now
reside there.

The Baptist church was built in 1873. It
was 28x.36 ft., cost $3,600, and had about
115 members. Rew C. D. Merit of Fair-
bury deli\ered the sermon of dedication
the first Sunda\' in January 1874. The
ground this church occupied, 5 lots, was
donated by Mrs. Mary Farnsworth. Rev.
W. E. James, the first pastor of the new
church, moved to Cazenovia from Wash-
burn in April, 1874. The last pastor. Rev.
Musser of Metamora, left this church in
1893. The Baptist church burned and was
ne\er rebuilt.

A Christian churcii was built and dedi-
cated September 9, 1900. For a number of
years this pulpit was supplied b\' students
of Eureka College. In 1957 the building
was sold to the Mennonites, who had
started a Sunda>- School in it in July, 1949.
During the period when no church ser\-
ices were held (about 30 years), Mrs. Isa
Stivers gathered 25 or 30 of the children
of tlie communit)- together regularh' for
Sunda\- School. Later, she asked H. R.
Schertz, pastor of the Metamora Menno-
nite church to take charge. In February

Cazenovia Tmvnship

1957 tlif tliuicli was organized witli IS
charter menibers and Melxin Hamilton in-
stalled as pastor. Tliat fall, tlu" (.'liristian
church gave the building to tiie new con-
gregation. The Women's Missionary and
Ser\ice Auxiliary , meets once a month. Of-
ficers are Mrs. Clarence L Irich. president,
and Mrs. Wayne Gross, secretar\- and
treasurer. The \'Outh group, with 8 or 9
young people, called the Mennonite Youth
Fellowship, meets once a month. Officers
are John Cross, president; Marjorie Ciross.
vice-president; Ann Schertz, secretary, and
Arlene Ulrich, treasurer. .-Kmong the charter
members of this church were Mr. and Mrs.
Richard Carber and Mr. and Mrs. l-lldon
Schertz.

.\t present, (Jazeno\ia has a population
of 12.3. Mrs. Stivers, now 95, has lived here
since she was about three years old. Her
husband, Jean D. Sti\crs, was the first
and only mail carrier out of Cazenovia.
and carried the mail for 30 years, retiring
in 1934. At first he carried mail by horse-
back, then used a horse and buggy, and at
last, as roads improx-ed he used a Model T
Ford, although sometimes he delivered
mail on foot when the v\eather was bad.
At present, Mrs. Stivers' daughter and hus-
band. Mr. and Mrs. John Tjaden make
tliiir lioinc with her. Other children are
Dani> .■\. of Cazenox i;i. and (ilen of Oregon
State.

-■Mjout 25 \ears ago a "Good Neighbor
Club" was organized and holds montliK'
meetings; its present membership is 18.

Lowpoint

Till' unincorporated \illage of Lowpoint
is located on Section 22 of Cazenoxia
Township. It was surveyed and laid out b\
D. H. Davison, Count\' Surveyor, in 1871.
for James G. Bayne, who owned the land.

Mr. Bayne had come to Illinois with his
faniih' from Brown Coimt\". Ohio, in 1846.
His homi' was just outside the corporate
limits of Lowpoint. He was the first town-
ship clerk, and for 20 \ears was school
treasurer. In those days of hard monev' hi'
often found himself in possession of large
sums of silver. This he would put in an old

oven which he would burv under the rasp-
b(Tr\ buslu's in his garden for safe-keep-
ing, in 1869-70 he was a member of the
Constitutional Conxention. He also took
an active part in getting the railroad
through the township.

On December 10. 1849. the first post
office in Cazenovia Township was estab-
lished in the Lowpoint settlement. It was
locatt'd in the home of the first postmaster,
Mr. Willi;ini E. Dodds. This house was in
the extreme northwest corner of Section
27. and was the first house built in thi'
tow nship.

In the 19.3()'s this liuikling. old and di-
lapidated, was torn down. A few years
later a house was moved from ^Vilbern and
placed on the same site. A few trees re-
main as evidence of the once heavily
wooded ari'a.

The oldest house in Lowpoint, which is
known as the Dyar house, is said to have
been there before the town was laid out.
It is located at 301 E. Washington Street,
the home of Edwin Anderson. The first
house built bv' Piper. Bavne and Company,
was a storehouse, put up just after the
town was laid out.

.\ sehoolhouse was built in 1848. The
first school in it was taught bv' Orson
Cheedle. In 1874 an association to open
an academy was formed. A building was
erected and. in 1875, Prof. J. E. Lamb con-
ducted a school of higher grades than the
pnblii' school. An average of 40 pupils at-
tended. In December, 1876. it bmned to
the ground and for lack of funds was not
replaced. A brick elementary school was
built in 1906 and later remodeled.

A two-year high school was built in 1916
which, in 1920, was expanded to a four-
year curriculum.

.At one time Lowpoint had a (ile hictory,
opened l^y John Pinkcrton. whose son,
Osc;ir Pinkcrton, operated it in 1878. ,\bout
4.000 feet of tile were turned out daily. By
1910 it was no longer in operation.

The first store in Lowpoint was kept by
John E. Dodds, a son of the first post-
master, and in time a postmaster himself.
In 1878, there was another store, kept by

Hornisli Brothers; a blacksmitli and wagon
shop kept by Lucius II. Ells\\()rth. who
owned 2'--' lots with dwelHng and shops. A
natixe of Connecticut, he came to Low-
point from Ottawa, with years of skilled
experience working with wood or iron, and
was a machinist and engineer.

In the summer of 1873, Piper, Ba> ne and
Company built a grain ele\ator in Low-
point, 70 feet high, 24x40 feet in size, with
20,000 bushel capacit\-, for $7,000. They
handk-d about 200,(H)0 bushels of corn and
oats annually.

A. Lincoln Banta and his brother Frank
came off the farm in 18S9, to purchase the
general merchandise store from IIcnr\- J.
Wehner. who had also been postmaster
since 1886. A. Lincoln Banta was commis-
sioned postmaster in 1889 and also pur-
chased the Dodds store at this time. The
first year they were in business, trade came
to about $6,000. In six years time they in-
creased trade to $25,000 a >ear. In 1895,
Frank D. Banta was commissioned post-
master. At this time the spelling of the
name changed from Low Point to Lou-
point, to a\oid confusion with the com-
munity of Long Point, about 40 miles
northeast of Lowpoint. Another brother,
A. D. Banta, followed Frank as postmaster,
and he also managed the grocery and mer-
chandise departments in an expanding
business.

Banta Bros, and Co. of Lowpoint opened this
store in 1910. Adverti.sed as the largest store in
Woodford County, it was destroyed by fire in
1921 and never rebuilt.

Banta Brothers and Company built a
large new store on the corner of CJrant and
Washington streets in 1910. It was ad\er-
tised as the largest store in Woodford

Woodford County Uistorij

County. This firm controlled the lumber,
grain, stock, implement, merchandise,
grocery, and banking interests of Low-
point. On Dec. 3, 1921, this emporium
burned, and the business mo\'ed to an
older building on the north side of Wash-
ington Street, near the grain elevator. The
post office did not get a building of its own
until it mo\ed in 1946 from the Bantas'
store and occupied the building at the
corner of Clark and Grant streets which
now houses the librar\-. Paid V. Lancaster
was postmaster at this time, and during his
tenure, in 1944. the office adxanced from
4th to 3rd class.

Wilbur M. Abel was commissioned post-
master, September 8, 1956. A new post
office building was occupied just north of
the old one, on Grant Street, on September
10, 1960. Congressman Les Arends and
Postal Field Ser\ice Officer Claude Karr
were guest speakers, the high school band
gave a concert, and well o\er 300 people
were present.

In 190.3, rural deli\'ery ser\ice was in-
stituted. From 1904-1918, John Banta and
Oscar Owens carried Low point rural mail.
Arnie Camp began to carr\- the mail in
1918 and retired in 1929. In August, 1929,
Irl Owen carried mail until George T.
Clark was appointed and began service
Jan. 1931. He retired in Dec. 1965 and for
a year Vyrl Gronewald acted as mail car-
rier until Emerson Braim. present mail
carrier, began his appointment Jan. 1,
1967.

A Yeoman Hall was built and for years
ser\ed as a recreation center. Basketball
games, plays, dances, and other entertain-
ments were held there. Remodeled, it has
liecome the present grocery store.

Other business finns in Lo\\'point haxe
been the Mundell and Owen Garage, later
run by Ben Schneider, son of Peter
Schneider, and at present operated b>' Don
A. Gay. For years, the blacksmith shop
was the enterprise of William Kimkel.
Barbers came and went.

For years Lowpoint had a hotel. It was
started by Mrs. Caroline Jackson (Aunt
Cal) as a service to the many traveling
salesmen who called on Banta Bros, store.

Cazenovia Tcncn.ship

Till- Iiotrl tlu'ii passed to tin' successive
iiianageiiii'iit ol: Mrs. Ainellia Miller; Mrs.
Ella Pratt, Mrs. Einina Wagner, Mrs. Tillie
Chri.st, and Mrs. Lenna Humphrey, who
with her t)r()ther, Elmer Cain and his w ife,
Minnie, were the last to operate the iiotel
and its dining room. The building is now
used as a residence h\' Thomas Hainoii and
family.

Telephone ser\ice was operated from
an exchange in Banta Bros, store until it
burned. In 1921, the exchange was mo\ed
to the home now occupied 1)\' the Melvin
VVehrli famih'. For \ears this was the Dora
Owen home and Dora was the telephone
operator. When the exchange was moved
across Clark Street to the front room of the
home Mr. and Mrs. Sanders Curry now
live in, it was operated by Mrs. Kunkel,
Mrs. Broers, Mr. Bridgewater. Mrs. Porch,
Mrs. Ehrhardt, Mrs. Woods, and Mrs.
Rull. For the convenience of people who
lived east of Lowpoint, there was a tele-
phone exchange located in the home of
Valentine Garber, a mile east of the \il-
lage. This also had a direct connection
with the doctor's office in Lowpoint, and
was used cjuite extensively. Calls were con-
nected with people as far north as Varna
and .south to rural Metamora or even
farther. This system of call bells, each
ha\ing a different sound, and a five-plug
switchboard, was discontinued sometime
around 1914 or 1915, although separate
lines for Washburn, for Lowpoint, and ft)r
Cazenovia continued in operation there for
several years longer, including a pri\ate
family line.

The railroad tracks still run through
Lowpoint but the passengi'r traffic was
discontinued in 19.35. At one time, high
school students went b\' railroad to Wash-
burn in the morning and returned to Low-
point in the evening. At that time it was
possible for ladies to commute to Peoria
for shopping in the morning returning in
the late afternoon. Now, a small business
in freight is transacted.

In 1929-30, Route S9 was establisiied
and concrete poured. It passes Lowpoint
to the west, but goi's right by the original

settlcnuiit, the "low poJTit ' between Caze-
no\ ia and the present LowpoJTit.

VX'itli the coming of "hard" roads, truck-
ing lines began to l)e estal)lished. Sanlord
Imhoff operates a trucking l)usiness with
oifici's in Lowpoint.

Doctors who ha\e li\cd in Lowpoint
and ser\ed the communit\ wliert' Dr. Mc-
Broom. followed b\' 13r. Hlackliurn, who
li\ ed in the liouse on Clark Street occupied
by the Beasle\- famih'. Then came Dr.
Stephen .Malcom Bunion, who started
practice in 1914 and recently ri'tireil in
1967, after a lifetime dexoted to tiie wel-
fare of the community.

Lowpoint, with a population of 225, has
street lights, blacktop on the streets, a \ il-
lage water system with a new well at the
southeast corner to replace the former \'il-
lage wells to the southwest, and natural
gas is axailablc.

Bricktown History

In 1853 this comnumity was the place
of brick kilns and tile sheds, where many
liricks were made from the clay .soil h)und
here. One kiln was located just west of the
Theodore Braun residence (the old Newt
Lewis home) now occupied by the M. A.
Whislers. Another kiln was located just
southeast of the Henr>' Weber residence,
now occupied by Julius CMirist. Here also,
was a blacksmith shop, a store and post
office. The first school was not far distant.
This school had a chimney made of sticks
and nuid; later the first frame building to
be put up in ("azenovia Township, housed
the school, on the main Bricktown road,
located on what was then the Michael
Wagner farm. .■\lso the Bricktown (Oak
Grove) Church of the Brethren, '4 mile
west of the school, is on land donated by
the Wagners.

This church was first organized in Mar-
shall County in ISSl, se\en miles south of
Lacon and known as Pigeon Creek; in
1883, this church relocated, building on
the land donated bv- the Wagners, which
is the present site. There were 13 charter
members; Mr. and Mrs. Bernhardt Braun
( grandparents of Clarence Braun. Low-

Woodford Cauiiti/ Ilistoiy

point), Mr. and Mrs. Henry Long (great-
grandparents of Harold Long of Low-
point), Mr. and Mrs. Sam Holman (father
of the late Spurgon Holman of Eureka),
Mrs. Isaac Carter (grandmother of Mrs.
Helen Hardmeier, Lacon), Mr. and Mrs.
Samuel Henry, Mr. and Mrs. John Lewis,
Mrs. Maria Calvert, and a Mr. Fike.

The early settlers were "so happ>' to
have a church, that they came regularly in
farm wagons or any other mode of tra\el
they had", (so reported by one of them).

This church burned to the ground in
early June 1939, and by December a new
building was erected that serves the con-
gregation. In 1926 Rev. M. A. Whisler and
family moved here from Iowa, to pastor
the church while also farming for .31 years,
but now retired. Rev. Larry Jones of Chi-
cago is now the pastor.

The brick-making has long been discon-
tinued, though brick bats can still be
plowed up at certain locations. Many small
dwellings in this community sprang up,
housing the early settlers who found em-
ployment in the brick yards which gave
the community the name of Bricktown.

There was a family cemetery started by
the Imhoffs, on top of the hill just south
of the main road, known yet as the Imhoff
Cemetery. Many of the early residents and
their descendants are interred in this
cemetery.

Among the early residents of the Brick-
tov^rn community were the follo\\ing:
George Braun, D. D. Kenyon, Tom Ball,
Martha Braun and family. Griff Calvert,
Huldah Moulton, Clarence Thurlon, Bill
and Kate Moteh', Sam Holman, Mike
Wagner, Newt Lewis, Mr. Imhoff, Joe
Staudmeyer, John Clark, Tom Brown,
Jerry Walker, Geo. Phipps, Willie Walker,
Tom Simpkins, Jeff Owens, Mrs. Baer-
Eberhart, Ben Moulton, Jerry Moulton,
Charles Giftord, Henry Weber, Ike Glo\'er,
John Hofstatter, Lou Black, Mr. Stevenson,
and John Rediger.

Old Houses in Cazenovia Township

Although space does not permit a com-
plete listing of old houses in rural Caze-

novia Township, we will mention some
with fascinating histories.

In Section 4 is the house occupied by
Mr. and Mrs. Russell Scott, owned by Mrs.
Lillian Kohl, daughter of Mrs. Mary Black.

The house in Section 9 where Ralph
Adami lives was once the home of Marcus
Buckingham, farmer and auctioneer, a son
of Judge William Buckingham. It is said
that the Buckinghams at that time could
drive from Judge Buckingham's home
south of Washburn to the ferry which
crossed the Illinois Ri\er to Chillicothe
without lea\ing Buckingham land.

In Section 10, the home occupied by
Mrs. Angie Seifert and owned by Ernest
Seifert, her son, has in the northwest part
of it the original home of James Freeman.
This James Freeman laid out Freeman's
Additions to Washfiurn.

In Section 17 is the old Ken\'on home-
stead. The house began as a log cabin
which is incased by the present house,
and is owned by Mrs. Joseph Hare, the
former Wilma Kenyon.

In Section 18 the original home of John
Clark, who served as a road commissioner
in early Cazeno\'ia Township, is owned
and occupied by Mrs. Herman Hofstatter.

In Section 20 the Isaac Moulton home is
owned by a descendant, Mrs. Mae Moulton
Duggins. The original one room log house
has been incorporated into the present
more spacious dwelling.

What is knowai as the Farnsworth house
is the present home of the 'Vyrl Grone-
walds. Built by Mrs. Mary E. Farnsworth
who came to Cazeno\ia Township in 1844,
it was sold in 1882 to Henry and ^Margaret
Foster, whose great granddaughter, Mary
Gronewald now owns it. During the time
of the underground railway, abolitionists
held their meetings here, in the only third-
floor room in the community. A large chim-
ney contained fi\e separate flues to accom-
modate five fireplaces, two on the main
floor, two on the second floor, and one in
the basement. These ha\e been closed up
and a stoker-fired hot air system heats the
house. There are twelve large rooms and
two smaller ones in the house, and drink-

Cazenovid Tiniiishi))

ing water is supplied from a sprint; fed
well heiu-ath it. Tliis house is located in
Section 21.

Also in Section 21. on tiu' road wliicii is
an extension of Clark Street runnini; west
out of Lowpoint are two other pioneer
liouses. On the .south is the Thomas Clark
house where Clarks have alwa\s li\ed, now
occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Ceorge E.
Clark. To the north and farther west is the
Henr\ Foster iiouse. which looks \er\-
much as it did when it was first occupied
1>\- the Fosters. Robert Foster, a grandson
li\es there now.

Tlie Jesse Hammers home in Section 32
is now owned by Roy Garber, who li\es
there. Mr. Hammers had a nursery of ten
acres and kept a general assortment of
trees and shrubber\-. The grounds about
the house were landscaped in formal beds.

The onl>- home in Cazenoxia Township
without electricit\ or piionc service is in
Section 32. The house is at least 100 years
old. Henr>- and Lawrence Dubois farm as
their pari'uts did. with horse-drawn ma-
chiner\-. Their hay is mowed and stacked.
Water for livestock is pumped b\- hand. A
grove of \oung walnut trees, raised from
seed, has been planted just south of the
house. They are also proud owners of a
Model B Ford.

Cemeteries

There are seven cemeteries in (^azeno\ia
Township. Since 1963, thisi' luue received
an annual compensation to be used for
maintenance purposes.

Baptist Cemetery. This ci'metcr\- extends
south and east from the corner of Main
and Church streets. King in Section 1
within the corporate limits of Washburn.
Records are not available' to determine
when this cemeter\- was plotted or who
was first laid to rest there. A small burial
grounds east of what is now 215 N. Main
seems to have been the nucleus around
which the larger cemeten,- de\ eloped. Rec-
ords show that in 1893 the Baptist Church,
which occupied the northwest corner, was
sold to the Lutherans, who ra/ed it in 1922

and the land then became a part of this
c-emeter\ . Som<' of the older markers bear
the nanu-s of Owen, Parker. Phillips, Sei-
fcrt. and Sweet.

Lutheran Cemetery. The acre of land in
Section 2 that forms the Lutheran Ceme-
tery w^as a gift in 1S65 from Bennett Shafer,
a farmer who owned the land hoin Wash-
bum west to Section 3.

From lcS70 to 1SS5, burials in this ci'me-
ter)' were made in a row along the north
and west part, regardless of faniiK' or rela-
tionship. In this row are lleinricii. Cordes,
Seims, Brandt, Hinek, Doescher, Hinck,
and Hinck. At the west line are Schultz,
Kirste, Renken. and Ording. After 1SS5,
tlie cenieterv seems to have been di\ided
into more prixate family plots.

Catholic Cemetery. In .April 1880, Bennett
Shafer gave the land for the Catholic
Cemetery. His own burial grounds lay in
the northeast corner, next to the Lutheran
Cemetery, so the land gixen was an acre,
less this Shafer family burial grounds. The
oldest markers in this cemeter\^ are those
for the gra\es of Elizabeth Shafer. 1883
and Frances Shafer, 1884, who were the
daughter and the wife of Bennett Shafer.
He died in 1903. Other old markers bear
tile names of Adami, Beschomer, and Pelz.
A row of native cedars marks the di-
vision line between this cemetery and the
Lutheran Cemetery to the east.

Buckiii'^ham Cemetery. Records of the
Buckingham Cemetery Association are
kept in a russet-colored, leather-bound \ol-
ume over ninet\' years old. The association
was organized on August 15, 1876 at ("aze-
novia. The first trustees were Isaac Boys,
P. A. Coen, and \\m. E. Rice. Wm. O.
Hammers, as Justice of the Peace, signed
the certificate filed in the office of the
Secretar\- of State the following Feb. 1,
1877. The deed shows that Sarah J. Buck-
ingham and Orpha E. Buckingham con-
veyed three acres of land, also a strip of
land two rods wide for a road, to be used
for cemetery purposes and no other, to the
Buckingham Cemetery Association, on
Dec. 5, 1876. This land lies in Section 9.

The last recorded meeting was held Jan.
12, 1966, with George T. Clark, president
and J. Hairison Buckingham, secretary-
treasurer pro tem.

Buckingham, Braun, Boon, Ckirk, Fos-
ter, and Pelz are some of the names found
on stones in this cemetery.

Imhoff Cemetery. Mrs. Mary ImhofF, who
had been a Wagner, came in 1S32 from
Germany. In 18.34 she married John Im-
hoff, also from Germany. They lived in
Ohio until 1851, when they moved to a
farm in Section 18, Cazeno\ia Townsliip.
Of eleven children, two had died in in-
fancy, and four more were to die in their
twenties. John Imhoff died in Oct. 1852,
leaving his widow with a family of nine
children.

Records at the court-house in Eureka
state that one-fourth acre of land was taken
from the farm and donated by Mrs. Mary
Imhoff as a cemetery. It seems to be rather
a family burial plot. There are Wagners
buried there, and other names recorded
are Imhoff, Owen, Phipps, Kenyon, and
Lewis.

Interested people cleared off the brush
and built a fence around this small ceme-
tery some years ago, with donations from
relatives and friends to help defray ex-
penses. With the help of the township it is
mowed and kept in good condition.

Lowpoint Cemetery

The Methodist Episcopal Church was
built in 1851, dedicated by Presiding Elder
Rev. Mr. Cummins. A very pretty little
cemetery, handsomely adorned with shrub-
bery and evergreens was laid out next to
the church. The land was bought in 1845
from James Boys for $1.00 to be used as a
place of worship and burial ground for-
ever. The first burial in the cemetery was
in the summer of 1851. Two brothers by
the name of Pogue had gone to the timber
for a load of wood, and while absent ate
some red plums, took cholera, and died
before they could get home. Both were
buried in the same grave, but there is no
standing stone in the cemetery for these

Woodford County History

two. The oldest standing stone is dated
1853 and the last luirial was in 1937. Tliere
are several Ci\il War \eterans buried here,
reportedly brought back by horse drawn
hearse during that war.

The cemetery was maintained by the
church until about 1910, when the church
and cemetery both fell into disrepair. The
church was formally closed about 1920 and
the assets transferred to the Washburn
Methodist Church. The books and records
of the cemetery have disappeared. From
the time of the closing of the church until
1963, no one took the responsibility of
maintaining the cemetery. It grew to weeds
for a number of years, with several differ-
ent people occasionally going in to mow
the head high weeds and set up the stones.
In May 1963, a group formed the Lowpoint
Cemetery Association and with financial
help from Cazenovia Township ha\e main-
tained it through 1968.

Black Partridge Cemetery. This is located
on Section 31, on the Metamora-Cazeno\ia
Township Hne. Nearly an acre in size, it is
all that remains of Black Partridge, which
was first an Indian settlement, then a post
office, and finally a church. The land at
one time belonged to Peter Schneider and
Henry Christ.

Names to be found are those of Iles-
selein, Wagner, Kendricks, RadalmuUer,
Stauffer, Truckenmiller, Bohlander, Attig,
Waller, Kenyon, Kamm, and Trump.

All of these cemeteries are organized
and are governed by boards of trustees.

Originally Named Uniontown,
Then Mantua, Now Washburn

Long ago, the State Road from Spring-
field to Chicago went through what was
some day to be a town; at that time it was
called "Half Moon Prairie". In 18.32, Wil-
liam Maxwell had ambitious visions and
saw the likely possibility of a village be-
ing established in Half Moon Prairie. He
bought land somewhere along the county
line in the now eastern part of Washburn,
built an inn and entertainment house for
travelers on the State Road, and also kept
fresh horses for the stage coach.

C.(izcu()ii-i Tonii\liip

Since this State Uoad was the most di-
rect and liest rout(> from Springfield to (."lii-
cago. l')7 \ears aijo, Mr. Maxwell probably
did a i^ood business with his investment.
He laid out a town to be called '".\nburn"
but tlu' time was not \ it ripe. So it was
that even though the luiilders of the State
Road were unaware of it, tlie\- were at the
same time laying the first corner stone of
the settlement that was, 20 \ears later, to
become Washburn.

William Ma.xweH's fatlu'r-in-law, Henrx
D. Palmer, was a county line propert\-
owner. In 1S46 Mr. I\dmer donated
some land that a school house might be
built and the families living on either side
of the county line road saw to it that the
school house was built. Thus a second firm
and enduring foundation stone was ad-
joined to the first; and because this little
settlement had sprung up on the line ad-
joining Marshall and Woodford counties,
the> called it Uniontown.

The huing of the third corner stone can
perhaps be attributed to Peleg Sweet who
came here in 1847. In Jacksonxille, Illinois
he became accjuainted with a Christian
minister and the men became good friends.
Through this minister, Peleg worked out a
trade by which he could come to Caze-
novia Township, Woodford (xnmty. It
must ha\e been a worthwhile trade, be-
cause once here, he bought SOO acres of
land along Parkside Dri\e.

He di\ided this land into SO-acre sec-
tions and put one of his ten children on
each section, with the exception of the
youngest, who in due time fell heir to the
home place which Peleg built. The houses
erected b\- the children of Sweet were all
similar in construction, and since they were
strung out from east to west, this strip be-
came known as "Stringtown." Pre\ious to
this time, there were onl\- three houses in
the- northwest ([uarter of Section One.

■{'he final step came in 1S51. Iliraiii
Echols actiuired tlu' necessar> land and
laid out the original town. This comprised
12 blocks, eight of them in Woodford
County and four of them in Marshall.

At the suggestion of .\lonson Howard,

the town was named Washburn. Joe Parker
was the first to build a house in the newly-
named town. .-X second house, a log cabin,
was built b\ Printer Burgess Smith. Dr.
Thomas was the first to buy a lot and some
time later he built a drug store on it. This
w.is a two-stor\ building with a Masonic
lodge room on the second floor. This was
later remoxed to Jefferson Street and used
by M. S. I'nllon as a store. Today it stands
as a residence on West Magnolia Street.

These \ears were filled with activity. A
building boom was on and in IS52 Jesse
Hammers built the first store for his
brotlu'r. lie was succeeded b\' .Xmericus
Pogue. who was succeeded by (wishing
and Jenkins about 1853.

The post office was established in 1854
in Dr. 'Hiomas' office. The first postmaster
was the William Maxwell who figured so
much in the earl\- historv of the town.

A brief survev shows that by 1855 Wa.sh-
burn had one store, one church (Baptist),
one minister, and one doctor. Kggs were
selling at 3t' per dozen, bullei' was from
50 to lOc per pound, and corn sold lor
150 per bushel.

A shoe shop was opiMied in 1856 and a
second store building was built by a Mr.
.\ckev. J. G. Haines ran a harness shop
anil in 1857, A. M. Harper opened a shop.
The next vear .August Iimker built a null
and John L. Black, the grandfather of (;len
W^ Black, was operating the Union Hotel.

In 1864 the Bliss Si.sters opened their
millinerv- store. Three years later, August
Innker built a steam flour mill.

The town later had another hotel, oper-
ated by Mr. and Mrs. John Carrithers. It
is now tlie Harry Snyder home.

Benjamin Momoe operated a saloon,
and Cla\- Little conducted a grocerv- store,
with Jonathan Haines as the clerk. Mr.
Haines later built the residence now oc-
cupied b\- Elmer E. \\'inkler.

In a lean-to on the .south side ol the
Little store buikhng, George G. Butler con-
ducted a tin shop, while the lamiK' had
living quarters in the rear. Between 1864-
1867 Phillip Drennen and Charles McGul-
loch, the great uncle of Mrs. C. E. Spang-

Woodford County History

ler, erected a grocery store. Later, A. S.
Fishburn and son, Edward P. Fishburn,
managed the store. This building is now
the Harper Apartments.

Some may recall when those living in
early Washburn forded the creek on Wal-
nut Street to drive over to the east side. A
foot bridge accommodated pedestrians.
When "Old Snag" went on a rampage, as
it does now during a spring cloud burst, a
bridge on Stringtown Road was used.
When the wooden bridge, with walk along-
side, was built across Snag Creek at Wal-
nut, the "Stringtown" bridge went into de-
cline, and the road was closed.

Eighteen hundred and seventy was a
great year for the town. The population
had climbed to 272 ambitious and happy
citizens, who saw only a prosperous, glow-
ing, and growing future for their little
town. The really momentous e\'ent of the
year was the laying of the Chicago & Alton
Railroad tracks. These, alas, were laid be-
vond Old Snag and several blocks east of
the original town, but no one complained.
Everyone was so thrilled with the prospect
of having trains through Washl)urn, that
they began to move near the tracks.

By 1S71 Washburn's business center was
on Jefferson Street right next door to the
C.&A. Depot. Frank N. Ireland estab-
lished the Washburn bank in the Fulton
building. And from that time on new
buildings were erected or "old" buildings
mo\'ed from the original to\\n to booming
Jefferson Street. Henry Sangbush moved
his harness shop from the west to the "east
side" and built a front addition to it.

The town was incorporated in 1S71,
erasing all that %\'as left to remind anyone
of Uniontown. The first board of directors
was elected that year: George C. Butler,
F. Bennecke, S. W. McCullough, Samuel
Patrick, Henry Sangbush, and J. G. Haines.
The board elected S. W. McCullough as
president, M. S. Fulton as clerk, G. N.
Ireland as treasiuer, R. H. Richard as con-
stable, and \\'illiam Cotton as street com-
missioner.

In 1873, Robert C. McCulloch laid out

the McCulloch Addition. He was a farmer
and also engaged in tile manufacturing
just outside the northeast village limits. He
retired and Iniilt a home in McCulloch's
addition.

In 1879, B. L. Bruce was doing all he
could to further the digging of a town
well. Bruce called to attention the dire
need of a town pump. The only water sup-
ply a\ailable for fire fighting in the down
town area was a cistern belonging to the
Christian Haase store. It was a good
cisterri, but the amount of water would
have been inadequate if a really good
lilaze got started.

Washburn was growing. In the ten years
from 1870 to 1880 its population had al-
most doubled. The 272 inhabitants had in-
creased to 450.

Business was booming, but in 1887
Washliurn had its "great fire." The two
south blocks of the business district
burned. In spite of Editor Bruces cam-
paign for more water reservoirs for fire
fighting purposes, there was still not
enough to control the fire. A town well had
been dug and water from the well was
used during this fire.

At the beginning of the "Gay Nineties,"
Washburn's population had increased to
598. The \Vashhiirn Leader was estab-
lished in 1890 by Charles Rowley. In 1891
there were two hotels in Washburn — the
Wilson Hotel and the hotel owned and
operated by Mr. and Mrs. Squire Tribbey,
earlier known as the Alexander House, and
as the Woodford Hotel.

Tom Alexander, who li\ed in what is
now the Sherman house, built the first
hotel where the Fitschen hardware store
now is, and operated it for a number of
years as the Alexander House. Following
in the management of the hotel were A. S.
Fishburn, Leslie Hayden, and others.

There were four trains dail\' on the
C. & A.; Moschel & Tweddale were dealers
in groceries, wall paper, jewelr\\ siher-
ware, and fine shoes; B. ^^^ Ta\ lor was a
dealer in li\'estock; Christian Haase was
engaged in the giocer\' and dr\' goods

Ccizciwiia Touiislii))

business; P. A. Soimners was a contractor
and builder; Jonatlian G. Haines dealt in
staple and fancy groceries.

George P. Gill was an attonie\ -at-la\\
and n()tar\' public; M. S. Fulton dealt in
drugs, medicines, paints, oils, toilet articles,
etc.; Jacob Fuiks was a dealer in dry goods,
millinery, clothing, boots, shoes and groc-
eries; Henry Sangbush, a manufacturer
and dealer in harness, collars and saddles;
Sharp 6; Tweddale. hardware merchants;
M. L. Buckingham, auctioneer; and Thos.
II. Bratt, jeweler.

Dr. James Tweddale was the leading
ph\sician and surgeon; Thomas Ne\ins
was the C. & .\. agent; .August Sangbush
was ;i manufacturer of boots and shoes;
Lesch. Fitschen and ('()., contractors and
builders; the Misses Bliss operated a dress-
making and millinery establishment; P. S.
Stephens conducted a general blacksmith
shop; Benjamin Aicher was a coal dealer;
C. B. Johnson was owner of the Washburn
ele\ator; Taylor and McVVhinney were
dealers in poultr\ .iiid fresh and salted
meats; Wm. G. Pritchard was proprietor
of a restaurant; S. J. Black was a breeder
of pun- bred swine.

Owens and Carrithers were proprietors
of the Upper Meat Market; Dr. W. A. Gray
was advertising painless dentistry; Ferdi-
nand Klinger was manufacturing and deal-
ing in iiamess. saddles, whips, etc.; Lee
\'an Diisen. was the "fashionable barber";
Dr. B. \. Watt was enjoying a splendid
practice as phxsician and surgeon; Fred
IJhiinger was dealing in furniture; J. H.
Patterson conducted a li\-er\' and feed
stable; F. \. Ireland was at the head of
the Washburn Bank.

Pioneer settlers ol that section of Wash-
burn King east of the tracks were George
and Minnie (iill Furrow, who in 1S91 built
a home "out on the prairie" where now
are located oxer half of \\'ashbunrs citi-
zens. Nellie Furrow Carter was the first
child l)()rn on the east side, and the attend-
ing plixsician was Dr. N. V. Maloney. This
first home is now occupied by Mr. and
Mrs. Gar\' McCully. "Pistol" being the

nickname of Mr. Furrow when a \oung
man, gave to the settlement which grew
rapidly after once getting a start, the name
"Pistohille," and the name still clings to
it toda\-.

Al. G. and ji'unie Butler Blackmon built
the second home in the addition early in
1892. The Blackmons built a number of
other residences in the east side, and its
rapid growth from that time has made of
it one of the town's loxely residential sec-
tions. Many recall the time when the Carl
Dibel home, later the F. N. Ireland home
and now the C. L. Jury apartments, was
"way out in the country from \\'ashbuni."
Other of the earlier homes are the Robert
DeTrempe home, built by Peter Ste\ens
and the Mrs. Pauline Tjaden home built
b\ Mr. and Mrs. John M. Black, and
known as the "Crystal Palace."

In 1892 Clifford C. Ireland formed a
stock company and built the Columbian
Hall, one of the finest theaters of the time
in central Illinois. For many years Wash-
burn audiences filled the house to capacity
with some of the best stock companies on
tlie theatrical stages as entertainers. The
new show house was dedicated with dra-
matic productions by local talent, and
some of the finest talent was brought here
by L>'ceum Lecturers and Entertainers.

.A, B. Mason was a proprietor of the
Washburn Novelty store and M. L. Harper
was advertising as the only store in Wood-
ford County selling goods on a strictly cash
basis. In 1893 the Washburn bank robben,'
caused great excitement.

A survey of the town in 1895 and 1896
shows Thomas G. Wells and C^ompanv'
occupving the "Old Corner Store" where
E. P. Fishburn and Miss Sadie Bliss were
kept busv from morning "til night attend-
ing rapidly growing trade, (uiv' llieknian
opened a meat market, with Charles Ililf
as the meat cutter. E. E. "Slip" DeBolt
was the town's "artistic " photographer, and
Peter Stephens, John Immel and the Ham-
mer and Anvil were doing well. Jake De-
Bolt, Fred and John Tribbe\- ;uid Billy
Berg were competitors in the tonsorial

business. Daniel Eikelbarner's sorghum
mill was grinding out "sweetness dear to
the heart of e\er\- child" and Isaac Heflel-
finger was doing the community's ditching.

The old grist mill built b\' August lunker
was purchased b\' Ulrich Schmidt and was
being repaired to "running order" after
long idleness. John Klinger was engaged in
the butcher business, and Henry Aicher
was offering to the public a well selected
stock of jewelry. Uncle Sam and Aunt
Media Wilson were serving the best in
food at Wilson House; Mrs. Ira Burnham
was displaying the latest in ladies hats and
Miss Abbie Heighwa\' was proprietress of
a dressmaking shop.

Henry Gill was constantly employed as
carpenter and painter; Robert Peachey was
in his fifteenth year as stock buyer and
shipper; S. B. Holman was advertising his
array of ripe fruits, nuts and candies as "a
conglomerated mass of mixed up messes
and a world of bargains". Mr. C. E. Ver-
ney, dentist of Lacon, was making weekly
trips to Washburn; Benjamin Butler, his
sons, Benj. Jr. and Frank, and O. Ehringer
were the brick masons of the to\\^n. J. M.
Black and Company were agents for the
celebrated Crown Piano and Organs and
James R. Watson was police magistrate.
Henry Hinck, Sr., Jesse R. Wea\'er, and
Alfred Lewis were effectiveh and spt'edi]\
digging wells in the ^■icinity.

S. C. Van Home looked after the inter-
ests of the C. & A. Railroad. John Brandt
was operating a confectioner\-. George
Furrow was busy hauling coal to all pints
of town. Dr. C. H. Anthony, \eterinar\-
surgeon, of Washington, called every
Thursday at L. J. Patterson's ii\ery stable.
The Societies of the town were A.F.&A.M..
I.O.O.F., M.W. of A., G.A.R., W.R.C..
Alumni, Chautauqua Circle, W.C.T.U. and
A.P.A.

In 1899 the Council of Scholars, of
which John R. Tweddale was a member,
met in the Columbian Hall to debate, hold
mock trials, and discuss current topics.

At the dawn of the 20th centur\ Wash-
bum's population had increased to 70.3.

In 1902 Oscar Shepiud started the teie-

Woodforcl County History

phone exchange. There had been a few
pri\ate phones before 1902. but this was
the beginning of the Washburn circuit. A
perpetual franchise was granted the com-
pany by the Village of Washburn.

Rural Free Delivery in the United States
was started on Oct. 1, 1896 with three
routes in West Virginia. The first rural
carrier here was Tom McKee, who started
April 3, 1903. He was succeeded by George
Furrow, who carried the mail for 30 years.
Frank Gill started as a carrier in March
1906 and continued his service until April
30, 1933, a period of 27 years. On June 3,
1933, Frank's route was taken over by Ray
Gardner who transferred here from Wash-
ington, Illinois. Guy C. Little passed away
Aug. 23, 1928, having served 28 years as
carrier. D. L. Moore began his work Feb.
9, 1940. Ray Gardner died on Oct. 1, 1953
and his route passed to John Danhof. pres-
ent carrier. D. L. Moore transferred to
Varna as rural mail carrier, the Washburn
routes becoming consolidated.

Only three years later, spurred b\' the
energetic efforts of Rev. Boswell, Wash-
burn people were becoming interested in
haxing electric street lights. A Mr. Searles
of Chicago met with the village board to
discuss a franchise. Like all city inipro\e-
nients, the new liglits would in\oKe some
expense, and there were those who op-
posed the idea, but Re\'. Boswell continued
his figlit with the aid of the progressive
minded citizens and on December 14,
1907. the franchise had been signed, a
plant had been built, and the lights were
turned on. \\'. E. L>'can was tlie manager.
Tliese arc lights burning from dusk to
1 o'clock were a great imprt)\ement over
the gas lights.

Just before Christmas, in 1904, the \ il-
lage was again struck by a disastrous fire
which destroyed the north business block
of East Jefterson Street causing tlie loss of
life of Jesse Wea\er, who occupied a room
over the Martini store.

In 1906 Mr. M. Wayt opened a cigar
factory in the Old Central Hotel. A new
bridge was built over Snag Greek at a
cost of $225, accommodating both foot

C'.uzcnovi'i Tonnsliij)

Washburn Imsiiuss district in tlii' carh' J900's.

travelers and street traffic, and concrete
sidewalks were replacinii the old hoard
walks. Clolnnihian Hall was a popnlar
place with the Kcniiceh' silent movies, the
hell ringers, and home talent plays. The
hotel in town was ha\ing ((uite a time. It
was operated mider nmnerons managers
for short times and Washburn was alter-
iiateK- with and without a hotel.

In 1908 the C. M. Ireland home hurned
and H. I'". Patterson, who had bought the
Washburn Li-ader in 1905, began a long
campaign lor a water works system for
Washburn. .\ new real estate firm was
opened in the Truitt building In Ilolman
and i-"arnsworth; E. T. Harper sold his
ri'stamant to Carl Fitschen and William
Ramse\ ; pi'ople were warned against rac-
ing their teams tluougli the town streets
and the Uh oi juK was the da\- oi a big
celebration with the lormer Senator C. N.
Barnes as .speaker. Awd it was in I90S that
Washburn \oted on home option; the old
calaboose was torn down; there were horse
races at the Buckingham tracks; the first
undergroinid cable was laid by the tele-
phone company, and a motor car which
was a veritable palace on w heels was sent
down the C &• .\. tracks.

The year 1909 had scarcely bcuun when
a fire which originated in the old Sclilil/
building standing ni'.xt to the (Columbian

Hall burned all of the buildings south of
the I'uik s store, now owned by the Ma-
sonic Lodge. John Kuhlman. L. B. Ilolman
and W. E. Taylor were injured when a
chimni'y fell from one of the burning
buildings. E\ery man in town was helping
in sonic wa\, but the bucket brigade was
insufficient to stop the fire before all the
frame buildings on that corner lot were
lost. ImmediateK there began talk of re-
building.

The first \illage primar\' election was
held Match 9. 1909, a \ery (iiiiit primary,
with onl\- a small number of \otes cast.
F. -A. I'.hringer was elected as president;
trustees were George Garri.son, B. F.
Heighwa\', E. T. Harper, II. Fitschen, Sr.,
and Henry Sangbush; clerk, 1'-. Baumgart,
and Kiehard Gill as police magistrate.

In 1910 the record of Washburn's popu-
lation showed S.35 citizens; the news of
nmawa\ teams bc>gan gradually to give
way to news of motorcycle wrecks and
auto mishaps. The Strauch brothers, J. E.
and Hugo, opened a blacksmith shop on
north Jeflerson Street. The highlight ol
the year was the C. & A. wreck which oc-
currc-d September 25th. It happened on the
sharp eiir\e just south of town. Si.xteen
cars, the engine and tender were oxer-
turned, and three men were seriously in-
jiucd and burned by the scalding water

from the boiler. In the wreek, tlie whistle
rod stuck, and it was the whistle's long
wail that aroused townspeople early that
Sunday morning.

By 1911 Frank "Dummy" Owen was
gaining a reputation as a red hot ball
player in the 3-1 League; Sunday evening
church services were held in Ehringer's
Park \\'here autos were parked inside and
horses were hitched outside in order to
avoid traffic jams after the closing song.
The new Ireland Bank liad its formal open-
ing March 25th with music by Monk's
orchestra; Fitschen's Opera House had a
run on popularity after the Columban Hall
fire, and the Butler and Robbins Opera
House opened. The new theater had quite
a staff with Brint Robbins as manager;
R. G. Jones as business manager; George
Moschel as treasurer; Harry Andrews as
head usher; Frank Ramsey, check room;
Ed Harper, house officer; Max Beschorner,
stage manager; Otto Immel, stage carpen-
ter and property man; and Cebe Eikel-
barner became the "town crier" as hawker
for the shows.

Promise of improved and extended
electric service came with the purchasing
of the "Washburn Heat, Light, and Power
Company by Hollenback and Vorhees of
Fairbury. On the first day of 1912, Ed Ly-
can, who had managed the plant when it
was first installed, bought it from the Fair-
bury men.

Oil was poured on Washburn's streets
for the first time in 1912. This was the be-
ginning of "almost" annual oil surfacing of
the streets. Two long-time business men,
Jacob Fuiks and Christian Haase, retired
that year.

For the first time Washburn women
were permitted the right to vote No\'ember
4, 1913. This was in a local election and
in the printed results women and men
were tabulated separately.

In 1914 all-night lights were tried as an
experiment, but were discontinued because
of the expense. Concerts by Roxy La Rocca
and his band made up of Washburn mu-
sicians were heralded as splendid. A novel
sports attraction was the croquet tourna-

Woodford County History

ment held by Dr. B. N. Watt on his cro-
quet grounds at his home; and the old
north elevator, considered a landmark, was
torn down.

The Public Service Company of North-
ern Illinois became the owners of the
Washburn Heat, Light and Power Com-
pany on Juh' 20, 1916. The first annual
Fall Festival and Autumn Show was held
in September, and through a new lighting
franchise all-night lights were begun De-
cember 14th.

Hope for a water works system was
squelched temporarih- b\' the negative re-
sult of an election held January 2, 1917.
The peak of the land market \\'as reached
here when the lunker farm adjoining
Washburn on the east was sold. Robert
Peachey bought eighty acres at $300 per
acre and Henr>' Lesch bought eleven acres
at $336 per acre.

In the meantime, the United States had
been drawn into the World War. C. T.
Ireland, who had been elected Washbiun's
mayor only a week before, was called to
the colors. He had enlisted previous to the
election and having had National Guard
training, he thought he had lieen dis-
missed; but word came that he had been
transferred to Company G in Peoria.

Two blizzards, the second following
close upon the first, ushered in the year of
19LS. As steps ahead, J. E. Strauch became
the owner and manager of the Washburn
Garage, and Ora Dvar opened the new
Ford Garage.

With war time limitations on fuel, the
Methodist, Christian and United Presby-
terian Churches united for worship as a
conservation measure. A gigantic auction
sale held on April 27th to aid the Red
Cross netted $2,200.

A very fine patriotic celebration was
staged in Washburn on June LSth. The day
began with a parade and ended in the
evening with a Red Cross Benefit Dance.
R. E. Patterson, Charles John Stephenson
and Roxy LaRocca phuined the da\- and
every one in town ser\'ed on the committee
to help them.

November 11th, the Declaration of Peace

Cazcnoii-i Toun-'iliip

found a jubilant and tlianklul Waslihurn.
A pulilif li()lida\ was declared 1)\- B. F.
Heii;liN\ay. president of tl)e \illage board.
At the liarlx'cue wliieh followed the pa-
rade that ni<;ht. 2500 free sandw iehes were
handed out.

Aeeordiug to the Bureau of Census, our
1920 population was 8.30, a decrease of five
persons.

Chicken pox cases nunibi-red so inan\- as
to be an epidenuc in Xovcniber and De-
cember of 1921.

Joe Molitor, the last of our bo\s to re-
turn from o\er-seas, arrived just in lime to
beat the New Year, 1922.

Before the \illage board was the (|ues-
tion of reopening the "arch" or tinincl
undiM- Jefferson Street between Ceorge
Butler's Carage and Quiram Brothers'
Store. When Washburn had bo.uil walks
this arch had been used to carr\ awa\
water conung through the swag in that
block. Then when the concrete walk was
put in, the Board decid(Hl the arch was
not neces,sar>- for drainage. It was closed
and two large sewers were put in its place.
A rain of any proportion proved the error
in the change from tunnel to sewer and
after several engineers had cxanHiied ihe
situation it was decided that the onl\ solu-
tion was to reconstruct the arch.

There were seM'nt\-nine business men
in the composite picture made in 1922.
There were only forty-eight in a similar
picture made fifteen years before. Changes
and improvements were being made; the
post office moved from the old building on
East Walnut Street to larger ([uarters in
the Le.sch building; A. C. Martini, w ho had
for years owned and managed a giocer)'
and dry goods store, retired. The stock was
.sold to Lusher and E\ans.

On October 2, 192.3, the world-famous
dirigible ZR-1 passed o\er Washburn on
its return trip to Lakehurst, N.J. from St.
Louis, and everyone turned out to watch
this new wonder.

In 1925, an eleven-inch rainfall between
ten o'clock Tuesday night, August 1 9th,
and seven o'clock the next morning flooded
everv- low spot in town, washed out bridges,

and destrovcd grain and stock in the fields
along the creeks. This was the heaviest
rainfall on record since LS76. Sub-zero
weather hastened off the old vcar and
hustled in the new. Thermometers varied
between twenty and thirty below in Wash-
burn and in nearby Wilbern the tempera-
ture registi'red at the ihirtv-four below
mark.

.\ bli/zaril coming late in the season
had \\'ashburn snowbound on .April 1,
1926. and the town lost one of its long-time
landmarks with the sunnner of that vear;
the old Toy Wagon Shop which had been
the scene' of the organization of the loc-al
.Methodist Church, later owned bv' Ira
Davidson and still later becoming the
tailor shop of C. P. Danhof, was torn clown
and a new home built on the site.

At k)ng last, on Septc-mber 7, 1926, at
a special water works election in which 445
votes were cast, the "fors" led with 25S
votes, while the "againsts" had onlv 179.

This was the year that aviator Charles
A. Lindbergh, (since becoming Col. Lind-
bergh), parachuted from his plane in a
storm and brought the mail from the
wrecked plane to the Washburn Bank for
safe-keeping until other arrangements
could be made to carrv' it on to Chicago.
This happened while the Colonel was
carrying U.S. Mail between Chicago and
St. Louis, before his hop across the At-
lantic.

On Jannarv 20, 1927, II. W. Packard be-
gan drilling the well which would supply
Washburn's water system. The spot se-
lected was between the town hall and the
fire hall. On fcbrnarv' 2nd. having drilled
111 feet, water was struck. The water tower
and tank were finished on June .30th. A
contract was let at this time to George
Harms for the remodeling of the town hall
and the building of the pump house. The
water mains were laid and the firemen
purchased the first hvdrant which was
connected to the system just behind the
town hall. .All work was completed by
.Armistice Dav- when the dedication pro-
gram was held at the Opera House. C. .\.

Fitschen, mayor, was acting chairman of
the day.

In April, 192S, Route 89 had been sur-
veyed, grading was being done, and a
bridge was being constructed oxer "Old
Snag" where the route followed tiie old
Stringtown road along Grant Park. With
the building of the bridge a new channel
was cut for the creek through the north-
west section of the park. By August 9th,
all pa\ement had been poured. With a
strip of paxement eighteen feet wide pan-
ning right through the center of Jelferson
Street, talk of pa\ ing the street from curb
to curb was readily accepted.

Bus service came to Washburn in Nhiy.
1930.

The drinking fountain which stands on
the bank corner at Walnut and JetFerson
Streets was installed and donated b\' the
Golden Rule Club.

An increase of 24 inhabitants between
1920 and 1930 ga\e Washburn a popula-
tion of 854, according to the National
Census Bureau; however, a personal tabu-
lation taken at the same time showed 862
people.

The Chicago and Alton had become the
Baltimore and Ohio by 1931. Local mar-
kets on July 22 were: wheat, 530; corn, 550;
and oats, 260. Not until November did
grain prices advance. In September of

1931, the town was without street lights,
an economy measure, but arrangements
were made to have the tox\'n lighted dur-
ing the Fall Festi\al.

As the final stroke to the long-struggling
train service, the little "Toonerxille Trol-
ley", with its comical "beep-beep" was re-
moved from the rails in January of 1932.

A surxey of the waterworks system
showed that 100 homes had been con-
nected by 1932, and that 8,017 gallons of
water were used daily.

In August, Judge Henry Horner, then
candidate for governor of the state, talked
from the steps of the Washburn Bank to
a crowd of interested citizens.

The "old hotel" building on the west
side of North Jefferson was torn down in

1932. It had been built in 1871. In October,

Woodford County History

1932 Chris Krahenbuhl opened the Wash-
bum Cheese Factor)', eniplo%ing 15 men.
It was in that month that the record low
for the wheat market was set. On the
twentieth da>' of the month wheat was 360,
corn 12^20 and oats 100.

Tiie year 1933 began with prices much
the same as the old year had ended, but
with a new President of the United States
making bold strides to impro\e conditions.
The first week of February brought one of
the largest blizzards that the town had re-
cei\ed for many years. Roads were blocked
and traffic was at a complete standstill for
two da\s. \\'ith the big snows of February
and large amount of rainfall in the spring
months. Snag Creek went out of its banks
in May and the Illinois Ri\er was at its
highest stage since 1884.

It was in the election of April 17. 1934
that Washburn \oted "wet" for the first
time in forty years. On the saloon proposi-
tion there were 213 \otes "yes" and 235
"no" Notes and due to the way in which
this certain ballot was worded the "no"
\otes were "for" the granting of said
license. The liquor ordinance was adopted
on May 22nd.

May turned out to be the driest month
of May since 1879. The temperature
ranged from 28 degrees to 100 degrees
within four days" time. It is a queer quirk
of fate that the town's first "Wet" month
should at the same time be one of its
driest.

By this time another old landmark along
North Jefferson Street had ser\'ed to its
ultimate end and was torn down bit by bit.
This was the Lenz Building, built about
1870 when the little stream that now runs
through a tunnel under the street was al-
lowed to trickle right across the road. This
old building once housed the butcher shop
of Frank Gill; and "Billy" McCulloch once
lixed in what they had fixed up to be
"right nice" bachelor quarters. Bertice
Moulton, barber, was the last to use the
building.

Jerry Barnes, W. B. Ramsey, Edward
Potzle'r, W. G. Lesch, H. W. Packard,
G. A. Fitschen, William Ingold, and Ray

C'azcnoLia Touusliip

Beschonier were appointed as the loeal
committee of the Federal Housing Achnin-
istration in Marcli of 1935.

In May, 1935, free mo\ies for tlie sum-
mer were begun.

Fifty World War \eterans recei\ed tlieir
bonus checks b>- calling at the Post Office
on June 15, 1936. That \ear Washburn
graveled State and Main Streets.

With suitable weather and good ice, the
old Zion Held ice pond became a popular
place for lexers of ice skating in January,
1937. In August, 19.37. John Ehringer was
granted a license by the \'illage Board to
operate a bowling alley within the cit\'
limits.

The new \ tar of 19.39 brought glorx' to
tlu' old town when brothers John and Ed
Arends were winners of the Star l5rothers
Bowling Touniey in Peoria. John claims
Washburn as his address and his brother,
Ed. is now a resident of Peoria.

The contract for graxcling of streets,
which was let b\ the \'illage Board to
W. C. Barth in Jul\-, 1939. was the final
step of having all streets within the town
limits surfaced with gra\(>l.

The 1940 census taken in Washburn
showed a population of 937. .Armistice Day
was obser\ed with a program held at the
Legion Log Cabin; the speaker for the
occasion was Mrs. \"ictor E. Rexnolds of
Peoria. Dining the ( Christmas sea.son a life-
size scene of the Xati\it\ was on di.splay
between the Firemen's Hall and Butler's
Opera House. Charles Hinck. C. Eugene
Hull, Win. Ingold and R. H. BeschoriK^-
deser\'e much credit (or tliis remarkable
portra\al. as do the man\ persons who
assisted them.

Two new enterprises came to W ashbiun
in 1941: The Li\estoc-k Products C'ompan\
of which H. M. Tjadcn was part of the
firm, and a store selling homemade bakerx
products, operated b\' the Misses M.ulcline
and Martha Carbi'r.

Wasliburn celebrated its centennial, the
anni\ersar\- of its first division into town
lots, on August 16, 17 and 18. 1951. .An
exhibit of anticjues, a flower show, a gallery
of old pictures and tent exhibits were dis-

p!a\cd (huing tliese three days. A pageant,
"Washburn: Yesterda\' and Today" was
presented in Crant Park the evening cf
August 16, followed b\ the crowning of
the 1951 centennial cjueen, Mary Ann
Gardner, and the 1S51 centennial (jueen,
Mary Jane Glaub. A dress revue, 1851 to
1951. followed by a band concert and a
free street dance brought the celebration
to a close on Saturday evening.

Many changes ha\'e taken place since
Wa.shburn celebrated its centennial. Fit-
schen Brothers Hardware Company started
in business in 18S9 at 117 South Jeflerson
and mox'cd in 1909 to their new building,
which lh(\ still occupy, at 137 South Jef-
fer.son. This was the site of Columbian Hall
and the Smith Hotel. Henr\-, John A and
Angelus Fitschen, brothers, wi're proprie-
tors of a lumber and hardware business.
After Henry died, his son, John B., took
over the management of the construction
and lumber company. John A. and Angelus
later retired, leaving the firm to John H.
and CJeorge, their respecti\i- sous. With the
death of Joini H., George purchased the
business, and Company was added to
the name. Loel, son of George, is the pres-
ent head of Fitschen Brothers Hardware
Company, which celebrated its 79th year
in business this March.

In 190S, Hinck Bros, purchased the
building known as Hinck's Restaurant
since that date. They had been in the
bakery and restaurant business since 1904.
After the death of Theodore Hinck and
his sister. Margaret Schwab, (Charles Hinck
had charge of Hinck's Restaurant until
his death in November, 1967. Then the
doors of Hinck's were closed, after 60
years in business.

In 1911, Hugo M. Strauch worked as a
clerk for .August C Martini in his grocery
store; then in 1914. with Julius I'cbicr. lie
bougiit the genenii store owned by 'Duke
Wendland on the site of the present post
office. In 1916 he moved acro.ss the street
to 117 South Jefferson and changed from a
general merciiandise to grocery store. In
1926 he opened a drv goods department
in the Ilaase building adjoining on the

north, hut closed it out seven years later
and mo\ed liis grocery to that location.
With "Hooks" Strauch's retirement, his son
Walter assumed the management of the
business now operated a.s Walt's Superway.

Eddie's Tap began business at 117 South
Jefferson soon after H. M. Strauch mo\ed
out. Duane Quiram now runs Quiram's
Tap at this address.

.Many business places have remodeled.
New fronts have been added to some. The
old building on the corner of Jefferson
and Walnut was razed in 1966 and a ne\\'
building erected to house the Washburn
Plumbing and Heating at 100 South Jef-
ferson.

From the twelve blocks laid out in 1851,
the Village of Washburn has cle\'eloped in
several additions, the most recent being
the Peabody Addition south of Route 89
with nine homes; Crestview, north of
Route 89 with 10 homes, both additions
being at the west edge of Washburn; and
Edgebrook, south of Parkside Drive to
Park Street with four homes, one new.

Snag Creek Golf Course, owned and
operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ma\nard Christ,
adjoins the southeast part of ^^'ashburn in
Section One. It is a 9-hole course with
Snag Creek mnning through it. A building
used for supplies and refreshments stands
near the entrance.

Washburn is lighted by mercury \apor
lights. Its streets are blacktopped or pa\ ed.
Natural gas is available for homes and
business purposes. A se\\'er system is under
consideration. Street signs ha\'e been
erected and Iiouses have been numbered
in recent years.

Officers of the Village Board are Dr.
F. M. Kennedy, ma\or; Mrs. Georgia Ann
Pelz, secretary; Mrs. Mary Ann Jury, treas-
urer; other members are Elmer Nuske;
Elmer Schierer; Donald Scri\ner; Kenneth
Winkler; Richard Beschorner and Robert
Glaub.

Grant Park

Beautiful Grant Park occupies seven and
one-half acres of land, donated to the town
in 1916 by Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Ire-

Woodfonl Coiintij History

laiitl in memory of their son, the late Capt.
Grant R. Ireland. Snag Creek meanders
through the park, dividing the south play-
ground area occupied b\- the recently
erected Lion's Club Shelter from the lower
and larger part of Grant Park. The outer
shelter on the south side is a gift of Mrs.
Madge Spangler. On the north side of the
park is the large memorial shelter built
after World War II. A wading pool for
young children, two tennis courts, a ball
diamond, playground equipment, rimning
water, restroom facilities, and cooking
grills, are some of the improvements that
have added to the comfort and pleasure
of the people who enjo\' Grant Park. A
pla\' supervisor is in charge during the
sunnner months. Grant Park dra\\s crowds
from towns vvithin a radius of 50 miles,
and was one of the few of its kind for
many years.

A stone park entrance, completed in
1920, was torn down and replaced by ever-
green planting in 1959. Two boulders in-
side the entrance, one on each side, bear
bronze tablets. The east tablet bears the
names of our men in the War of 1812 and
in the Ci\il ^^'ar. The west tablet bears
the names of those who ser\ ed in ^^'orld
War I.

Grant Park is under the supervision of
a Park Board, which is elected b>- ballot,
and is supported b\- a mill tax from the
Park District. This Park District was
formed as a result of an election which was
held on Januan,' 26, 1949. The first com-
missioners were Mrs. Edith Ireland, Mrs.
Emma Owen, Edwin Abel, Bernard Broers,
and Thomas Parkin, Sr. The present Park
Board officers are Cabin McCulK-, presi-
dent, L. Jack Swanson, \ice-president, Mrs.
Mary Ann Jury, secretary and treasiuer,
Mrs. Wayne Gross, Miss Helen Sluiltz and
Russell Schertz, trustees, and \'erle Safford,
legal acbisor.

Washburn Nursing Home

Washburn Nursing Home at 231 Park-
side Dri\e. Washburn, is the only con\a-
lescent home in Cazenovia Township. It
was formerK' the Charles H. Ireland home.

C'dzciunin Touiisliip

After the deatli ot Mrs. Ilaiuiali B. Ire-
land it was sold in 1951 to become a nurs-
ing lioiue and passed through several own-
ers hi'fore being sold to Mr. and Mrs.
Milton .\dolphson, the present operators.
Mrs. .\d()lphson. a registered nurse, was
formerh- Bett\- Elaine Peabod\ .

There are 32 beds and 32 patients, witli
a waiting list. An aeti\ e eraft program \\'ith
Mrs. Dorotlu- Hicks, chairman, provides
occupational tln'rap\ and items h)r sale
to the public.

Professional People

Bexond their names and the knowledge
that in 1878 the\- were practicing physi-
cians in this cominunitx, not much infor-
mation is available about Dr. Garrett New-
kirk or Dr. N. \'. Malone\-. The same holds
true for Dr. C. E. \'erna\'. a dentist, and
for Dr. \y. A. (ira\ , a dentist who came to
Washburn from Peoria twice a month, in
the 189()'s.

Dr. James Tweddale

Dr. James Tweddale began practice in
M'ashburn after graduating from Rush
Medical (College and coTitinued to practice
imtil old age and ill liealtli brought his
retirement. He made his home with his
sons until his death January 5, 1916.

Dr. A. E. Trask

In 1878 Dr. A. E. Trask of Calesburg
began his visits to Washburn. Dr. Trask,
an ophthalmologist, carried a jewelry box
trom which he sold his wares. For well
over fifty years he called in W'aslibuin. Dr.
Trask died in 1939.

Dr. B. N. Watt

In 1886 Dr. B. N. Watt came to Wash-
burn and opened his office. .\ dedicated
doctor, he continued to serve the needs
of the connnunitv' for 56 years. Dr. Watt
passed awav' about 20 years ago.

Dr. liank Miles Carrett, D.D.S.

Born in Sodus, Micliigan, in 1876, Frank
M. Garrett graduated from Northwestern
Universitv Dental Colli'ge in 1901 and be-

gan practice in Washburn the same year.
He retired in 1958, having practiced as a
dentist for 57 years. Dr. Garrett was a 50-
year member of the American Dental As-
sociation, a life member ol the Illinois
State Dental Fraternitv-, and a past presi-
dent of the Peoria District Dental Society.
He died in May, 1962.

Dr. F. B. Ireland

15orn on a farm near Washburn in 1871,
Dr. F. B. Ireland graduated from C:hicago
Medical College and began the practice of
medicine in Varna. He came to Washburn
in 1906. In 1917 Dr. Ireland enlisted in the
U.S. Army, received a commission as 1st
Lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps,
was promoted to rank of captain, and
served his country until |ini(\ 1918. Re-
turning to Washburn, lu' practiced medi-
cine for several vears. Dr. Ireland passed
away in 1945.

Dr. Charles L. Boon

In 1909 Dr. Charles L. Boon, a native
of Linn Township, received his degree
from the Chicago College of Medicine and
Surgerv'. .\fter practicing in Shannon and
Towanda, he returned to Washburn in
1915 where he served the communitv' until
his retirement in 1948. Dr. Boon was active
in ei\ ie affairs, at one time serv ing as presi-
dent of the \'illage Board, and as pr(>sident
of the Woodford Countv' Medical Associa-
tion. He died in 1951.

Dr. Franklin

Boin in ( .'anada. Dr. Franklin attended
Cj-eighton .Medical School in Omaha. Ne-
braska. He came to Washburn in 1943 and
practiced here until 19.')!. He died in 1959,
aged 85 vears.

Dr. J. J. Sarmiento

Dr. Sarmiento. born in Bogota. Colombia
in 1917, was graduated from (iolonibia
National University as Phvsician aTid Sur-
geon in 1943. In 1949, he began practice
in Washburn where he staved until 1953,
when he moved to Chicago in order to
Initlier his studies at the universitv.

Dr. Arniado A. Salas

Dr. Armado A. Salas, a nati\e of Cuba,
followed Dr. Sarniiento in his practice,
coming to Washburn in 1954. The follow-
ing year he was summoned to enter the
U.S. Armed Forces. Upon discharge from
the ser\ice. Dr. Salas located in Henry,
and later in Oak Park, Illinois.

Dr. \'ictor \'. Jay

Born in Lithuania, Dr. Jay recei\ed his
medical training in Germany and the hos-
pitals of New York City. He served two
years with the U.S. Army Medical Corps,
attaining the rank of Captain. In 1955, Dr.
Jay began his practice of medicine in
\A'ashburn. He is a member of the staff of
both St. Margaret's Hospital in Spring
Valley and of the Methodist Hospital in
Peoria. He is also secretary of the Wood-
ford County Medical Association.

Dr. Stephen M. Burdon

After his graduation from the Uni\ ersitx'
of Illinois Medical School in 1913, Dr. S.
M. Burdon located in Lowpoint and for 53
years faithfulh' serxed a large area before
his retirement in 1967. He was, indeed, the
prototN'pe of the revered "country doctor",
calling on patients at all hours, from the
days of the horse and buggy to the present
day motorized travel. Among other high-
lights of his long and distinguished career,
he delivered almost 3,000 babies in his
community.

George P. Gill, Attorney-at-Law

In 1895, George P. Gill, attorney-at-law
and notary public, was also a real estate
agent in Washburn, with offices o\er
Harper's store. He later mo\ed to Lacon.

John R. Tweddale, Attorney-at-Law

Jolm R. Tweddale prepared for his bar
examination by reading law in the office
of George Gill. He had been in the gro-
cery, men's furnishings, and jewelr\- busi-
ness which burned in Washburn's fire of
1887. Mr. Tweddale was elected State's
Attorney of Woodford County in 1904 and
again in 1924, this time serxing for a period

Woodford County Histonj

of eight years. In 1910 he was appointed
Master in Chancer)- for a two-\'ear term.

Mr. Tweddale, a member of the Metho-
dist Church and of Washburn Lodge
A.F. andA.M., li\ed to become the oldest
inhabitant of Washburn. In August, 1962,
he celebrated his 99th birthday, and passed
away in September of that \ear.

Organizations

Instituted in 1864, Washburn A.F. and
A.M. is the town's oldest fraternal organi-
zation. James Freeman was its first Wor-
shipful Master. Meetings were held in the
lodge room over the Thomas drug store on
the county line. With the building, about
1870, of the Roberts-Patrick general store,
the upper story came to be used by the
\arious lodges as a meeting place.

In December 1904 the Roberts-Patrick
building, with all others on the east side
of the north block of the business district,
were demolished by fire. It was at that
time that the lodges rented the second
floor of the Fuiks building that is today
used by the Masons and Eastern Star, and
was also used by the Odd Fellows for
many years. This building is now owned
by the Masonic Lodge. The lodge has a
membership of 125, the present \\'orship-
ful Master is Robert Lear.

In 1898 there were, in addition to tlie
Masonic organization. Odd Fellows, Mod-
ern Woodmen of America, Grand Army of
tlie Republic, Women's Refief Corps,
Women's Christian Temperance Union,
Rebekahs, Chautauqua Circle, and Mystic
Workers, who held their meetings in Wash-
burn.

Modern Woodmen of America, Camp
1821. holds annual meetings for election
of officers and financial report. There are
33 adult and five junior members. Present
officers are: Ralph Laible, Consul; Floyd
Stonier, Ad\isor; Jerry Barnes, \\'atchman;
R. L. Pacey, Sentry; and Dr. S. M. Burdon.
Plnsician.

The Household Science Club, with Mrs.
S. M. Robinson as president, was organized
in November 1910, and for several years
met in the Charles H. Ireland home. The

Cazenovid Toinishif)

last of its cliartiT iiKinbers, Mrs. C. L. Jury,
passed away in .-Vii'^ust 1967. It was a forc-
niriiicr of tlu> Washhurn Woman's Club
\\liich has sponsored nian\ coniiiiunitN
iniproM-nu-nts. The Washliurn Woman's
CAuh also sponsored the Junior Woman's
Club. Present officers are — Mrs. John
Dainerell. president; Mrs. E. L. Hobin-
son, \ ice-president; Mrs. Charles Danhof,
secretar}-; and Mrs. H. E. Tweddale, treas-
urer.

Boy Scouts. B()\ Scout Troop 67 at present
has a membership of 2.5-.30. There is also
a Cub Scout pack and a Webelos group.
There are four 4-H Clubs in Ca7eno\ia
Township, the\- are: Tiirift\ Thri\ers,
Lowpoint-Washburn Whirlwinds, Prairie
Lads ;ind Lassies. ;uk1 The Pins ;uid Pans
4-H Club.

Fire Department

Two chemicid fire engines were pur-
chased b\- the town in 1915, to reinforce
the bucket brigade. In December of the
same year the fire company organized with
Max Beschorner as chief. 15y .September of
1924 the \olunteer Fire Comp;in\ had a
new first truck, fully eciuipped. Another
new truck was purchased in Februar\- of
1929. Tile X'okmteer Firenu-n had be-
longed to the Woodford C^ount\ organiza-
tion pre\iously, and then in 195S again
joined the County As.sociation. The pres-
ent Fire District was organized in June of
1964. Twenty men in Washburn. fi\e in
LaRose. and fi\e in Lowpoint belong to
tlic N'olunteer Fire Dep;irtment. Eour
pieces of equipment are stationed in \\'ash-
burn, one each in LaRose and Lowpoint.

The Ladies Auxiliary to the firemen was
organized in July 1965. and all ladies
whose husbands are \"o!unteer Firemen
hold membership therein. Officers are:
Mrs. Milton Koch, president; Mrs. Elmer
Nuske. \ice-president; and Mrs. Hiirold
Schumacher, secretarx-treasurer.

A new fire hall was built and was dedi-
cated in April 1967. although the firemen
held their first meeting there in January
1967. Officers of the Washburn \ i)lunteer
Fire Department are: Tom Ki/er, fire

chief; Arthur Strauch, 1st Lt.; Milton Koch.
2nd Lt.; Harold Holm, secret;ny-lre;isurer.
Tile Order of tlie Eastern Star lost its
ch;irti-r and other furnishings in the fire
that destro\fd the lodge hall. It was not
reorgiuiized until 1920, w hen a charter was
issued to Washburn Chapter No. 839,
XA'ashburn, Illinois. The new chapter was
instituted in October 1920, with the aid
of Lacon Chapter No. 673. 'Viola Bucking-
ham ;md .Vdolph Woltzen were the first
Wortln Miitron and Worth\- Patron. There
were 21 charter members, of which Mrs.
Guida Ireland, Mrs. Hazel Owen and Mrs.
Mabelle Ramse\' remain. There are lOS
members at pr(>sent, one ot whom. Peg
Abel, is a Grand Lecturer. Present officers
arc: Elizabeth lunker. ^\"orthy Matron and
Harry Stock.still. Worth\ Piitron.

Aniciiran Lciiion Post (ifil . In 1921 W;isli-
burn formed tlie largest .-\meric;m Legion
Post in Wt)odtord Count) . .Application for
a charter was made on Jiuie 28, 1920, to
form Post 661. There were 29 charter mem-
bers, of whom twehe remain. A Soldiers
and Sailors Club had been established in
1919.

.Much time was spent in Iniilcliiig the
Log Cabin on Parkside Drive. Tiie l)uild-
ing was completed in 1938 and on August
4th was dedicated. At present the Post has
128 members and officers are: P'rancis
Montgonier\-, Commander; Harold (Mike)
Crank, Sr. \ice-commander; Raymond
Montgomer\', Jr., \ice-commander; Walter
Braun. ;idjut;uit; and F. \. Ireland, finance
officer.

On October 9. 192.3. a i\u KJu.x Klan
meeting was held, but no organization re-
sulted.

Golden Rule C'lttI). In 1924. 26 business-
men met for dinner and during the discus-
sion which ensued the Golden Rule Club
was born. The club was primarily to pro-
mote business and interest in Washburn.
The name was later changed to the Ci\ic
Club, and in 1931 the Club was absorbed
by the Lions Club, which sponsors man\-
worthwhile community projects. Present
officers of the Lions Club ;u"e: Keith Mc-

Clully, president; J. H. Buckingliain, 1st
\icc-president; C. L. Vandeveer, 2nd vice-
president; Larry Points, secretary; and
Norman Zook, treasurer.

Izaak Walton. Meeting at Bonnie View
Cottage on January 20, 1928, over 40 men,
all lovers of the out-of-doors, formed the
F. H. DeVol chapter of the Izaak Walton
League. Officers elected at the organiza-
tion were — J. E. Strauch, president; C. E.
Spangler, \ice-president; Adolph Woltzen,
secretary-treasurer. At present the Izaak
Walton League maintains a recreation area
in Worth Township.

Wasliburn Business Woman's Club,
which organized in October 1930 for
social purposes, has contributed liberally
to community activities. Mrs. Grant R.
Cordes was the organization's first presi-
dent. Other charter members who still re-
tain their membership are: Mrs. Ora De-
Bolt, Mrs. Edwin Inihoft and Mrs. Earl
Rickett.

The Junior Woman's Club was organ-
ized in 1934, with Mrs. Morris ( Rheta
Cordes) Kuhlman, president. This group,
too, has sponsored many special projects
for community betterment. Officers are:
Mrs. Darrell Lasswell, president; Mrs.
William Short, \ ice-president; Mrs. Wayne
Klein, secretary; Mrs. Gary McCully. cor-
responding secretary; and Mrs. Mary Ann
Jur\-, treasurer.

The Washburn Women's Christian Tem-
perance Union was organized of interde-
nominational women of this communit)' in
1934, with eight charter members, and now

Woodford Countij History

numbers 37 members. The W.C.T.U. has a
wide range of service projects. Local of-
ficers are — Mrs. Melvin Christ, president;
Mrs. Robert Dennis, vice-president; Miss
Delia Ehringer, secretary; and Mrs. Emer-
son Braun, treasurer. The Illinois state
president is Miss Juanita Whisler of rural
Lowpoint.

American Legion Au.\iliar\' L'nit 661 was
organized in 1934, with 14 charter mem-
bers, eight of whom remain. One Gold
Star Mother, Mrs. Elsie Meils, and two
Gold Star Sisters, Mrs. Emma Bratt and
Mrs. Bennie Jenkins, are members of Unit
661. Mrs. Kathryn Tjaden was the first
president. Membership at present is 66
adults and 17 juniors. Present officers are —
Mrs. Bonnie Jenkins, president; Mrs. Thel-
ma Robinson, vice-president; Mrs. Rowena
Laible, secretary; and Mrs. Grace Dam-
erell, treasurer.

Homemakers Extension Association be-
gan as Home Bureau. The Cazenovia Unit
was organized in 1940. At present there
are 34 members. Officers are — Mrs. Ben
Warnke, president; Mrs. Walter Krech,
1st \ ice-president; Mrs. Paul Zook, 2nd
\ice-president; Mrs. Edwin Imhoff, secre-
tary; and Mrs. Norman Zook, treasurer.

Richard Barnes of Washburn is Wood-
ford County Farm Bureau president.

The L-W-L ( Lowpoint-Washburn-La-
Rose) Businessmen's Club was organized
in 1964. Membership is 26 and the officers
are — John Danliof, president; Willard Zoss,
vice-president; and Jack Phillips, secretary-
treasurer.

Clayton Towns! up

Mhs. Rose Toole

By 1840 TiiK CROVES along I'aiillur and
Crow creeks had been prett\' well settled,
but from one gro\e to another, perhaps a
distance of ten miles, not a house could be
seen. It was all open prairie, the hand of
man and the forces of nature had not come
in conflict.

Indian troubles had checked immigration
to Illinois for a time, but with the exodus
of the Indians, the settlers began arriving.
Since the\' found the land along the creeks
alread\- occupied. the\- began to build their
labins out in the open prairies.

The northwestern part ol Woixilord
County, comprising Linn, (iiaston. and
Minonk townships, was the last to be oc-
cupied. The main reason for its dc\fIop-
ment uas the construction ol tlic Illinois
( lentral Railroad.

Karly Pioneers

.Some settlers came to I, inn in 1S4() and
many came before the organization of the
two townships in 1S55. After (juite a num-
ber of settlements had been established in
Linn, the settlers began to open in Clayton.

In the s]5ring of 1854. John Linn came
from Kentucky and started to build a house
on Section 19. Soon afterward James Liv-
ingston, who had been in the ni-ighborhood
lor a year, brought his family from New
Hampshire and established a home. Milton
Hicks and Jefferson Shepler cam(- soon
after that and built houses.

.\tlolphus W. Forney came to Illinois
from Hancner, York County, Pennsyhania.
He purchased 240 acres in Clayton Town-
.ship. Section .35, settling here March 28,
1854. The Forneys raised si.\ sons. E\entu-
all\' the\- sold their land to Fdwin TalKii in

1888 and nioxcd to Nebraska. One son,
Alfred E.. later rctiuni-d to Clastou Town-
ship.

Ill the sjiriug of 1855, the Joliii \\ . I)a\ i-
son family settled in Cla\ton. Four brothers
of this family came to Illinois, three settled
in Woodford Count\-. J. M. Davison was
elected school trustee at the first election
in the township. P. H. Da\ison ser\ed as
county treasurer. D. W. Davison as coro-
ner, and D. II. Da\ isou scr\cd .)() scars as
snr\'eyor.

\lau\ other settlers came in 18.55. Jacob
McC^hesney and Henry Lohnes came from
Rensselaer County, New York. Jacob Rob-
inson, Samuel Knowles, and William
Wortbington also came in 1855. Wait Up-
hoff. who first came to Peoria from Ger-
many, came to this comnuuiit\ about two
years later. His sons Adam W., Bart W.,
John W.. and liernard W. were closely con-
nected with the farming comminiity near
Benson. In 1856 Henry Memmen came to
the township. He too, had come to Peoria
from Cennan\- in the earl\- 50's.

In the iall of 1856, Anthony TalKn and
wife settled in (Clayton Township, where
they had purchased 200 acres in Section 29.
The\' had conic lioni Dc\ oiisliire. England
in 1848. coining to Kickapoo, Illinois. The\-
li\ed there about ten years betori' coining
to Clayton Township. Joseph TalKn, An-
thonys brother, bought adjoining land and
came to his locality about the same time.

In 1858 F. D. Learned came here from
Lee Count\\ ha\ing originally come from
New Hampshire. For many years he was
identified with the business and political
life of the count)'. The John G. Hindert
famiK came from Germain- in 1854 and

settled in Marshall County. In LSSS they
settled in the eastern part of C]a\ton
Township.

A later settler was Adam Eckhart who
came here from Ohio as a young man in
1862. His sons, Jake E., Henry, and Ed-
ward, became businessmen in Benson.

Growth was gradual at first, so when
Peter Gommels settled here in 1869, there
were but few houses. They were small,
usualK' consisting of two rooms.

The Illinois Central Railroad had been
completed, but there were no stores or
shops when the early settlers came. Trade
was carried on with the ri\'er towns with
many families in this part of the country
doing their marketing at Lacon.

Organization of Linn and Clayton

Clayton and Linn were embraced in a
single precinct for four years until 1859.
At the time of Township Adoption Act in
1855, there were barely enough inhabitants
in the two towns (townships) lor one
organization. The precinct embracing the
Congressional Towns 28 N, R 1 W, and
28 N, R 1 E, was organized April 3, 1855
and in anticipation of a future separation
was called "Linn and Clayton."

During the four years the townships re-
mained in one precinct, the population in-
creased very rapidly, so when the separa-
tion took place, there were 270 voters in
Linn and Clayton. The actual population
was about 1,200. This was an increase of
300%.

Organization of Clayton

On September 20, 1858, the legal \oters
of that part of the precinct known as Linn
presented a petition to the Board of Super-
X'isors, setting forth their desire to become
a separate township. The reciuest was
granted and separate elections were or-
dered for the next spring.

After the order for the separation had
been gi\en the \oters of Clayton, 79 in
numlier, met at the Jefferson school on
April 5, 1859 to elect officers. The officers
of the new township were: J. P. Robinson,

Woodford County Ilistory

supervisor; Henry Lohnes, clerk; James
Li\'ingston, assessor; J. Forney, collector;
Thomas Shreeves, postmaster; F. P. Tut-
hill and F. H. Lockwood, magistrates;
Hiram Li\ingston, William Linn, and C. N.
Darling, commissioners of highways; C. H.
Robinson and W. Cole, constables. At that
time there was a population of 398 in the
township.

Description of Clayton Township

Clayton Township, 28N, Range 1 east of
the Third Principal Meridian, is bounded
on the north by Marshall Count)', on the
east by Minonk Township, on the south by
Green Township and on the west by Linn
Township. It is six miles square and con-
tains 36 full sections.

The land in the eastern part was nearly
level; in the west somewhat rolling. The
land was rich, the soil deep, and well
adapted for the production of corn. There
was scarcely an acre that was not tillable.
There was no timber, but gro\es were set
out by the owners. Sloughs and a branch of
Crow Creek were the only natural water
supply for the stock, but plenty of water
was obtained from wells at a depth of 20
to 40 feet. By 1910 the entire township was
well drained and most of it under cultiva-
tion.

Benson

Benson is the only village in Clayton
Township. The Chicago, Pekin and South-
western Railroad was built through the
township and completed in the fall of 1872.
It was soon realized that this would be a
good business point and people became in-
terested in its de\elopment.

The original town consisted of 38 acres
on the west side of the railroad, on prop-
erty owned by John Weast. It was laid out
by County Surveyor D. H. Davidson, Feb-
ruary 20, 1873. On April 3, 1874, an addi-
tion of 27 acres on the east side of the track
was laid out. and was known as Weast's
Addition. (John Weast was the original
owner of the whole town. ) The town was
named in honor of S. H. Benson of Streator,

Cldijlon Tounship

The old Dutch mill built in 1S72 in Ut-nson.

will) \\;is till' lailioad's general freight
agent at tlie time.

Tlie towiisliip had \)vvu settled almost 20
\ears before the town was laid so there
were farm houses not far from it and one
farm house was located within its limits.
(). A. (."axan mo\cil a house from Greene
Townsliip into town and it heeame part of
his hotef F. D. Learned huilt the first
house in town in 1S73.

Jourgen Harms and George Kirtchner
opened the first store in 1873, carrying a
stock of general merchandise. Before long,
f. n. Learned opened a drug store. \
iHiiiding was erected on the corner of Front
and Gla\ton streets liy Strawn and Rannie,
who conducted a general store.

Lyman Ballow was the first station agent
and was succeeded b\' Dan Da\is. F. D.
Learned had been appointed postmaster
and the first mail was recei\ed in Benson
in March, LS73 in the office connected with
the drugstore.

In LS74, Joseph Benkler opened a har-
ness sliop. Tile same year saw the comple-
tion of Samuel Peterson's elc\'ator. Other
business places were liuilt b\ Biiijanu'n

Mauer. E. Duden, Barliara W'ea.st, UphofF
Bros., and A. H. Ahrens. Ih-nry Forney
also built a hotel.

In 1876 the first brick building was
erected b\- Jourgen Harms and Henry
Heineke. Soon after this Ghark Memmen
and Heineke opvncd a brick \ard and tile
factory. The ne.xt >car it was purchased by
Simon Peterson. There were three kilns, a
drying shed antl a mill house. Power was
flunished b\ a steam engine. This business
was in continuous operation until 1907.

The following businesses had all i)een
established by 1878:

Dr\' goods and groceries — Saner and

Holland, Peter Petri, and Harms and

Woltzen.
Liunber — ("a\an Bros, and George Fritz

and (]o.
Hardware — Abrahams antl Ziuscr.
Milliner)' — Barbara W'east. and Decker

and Harms.
JewelrN' — Gharles Lauenstein.
Flotir Mill — Schmidt Bros.
.Vgricultural Implements — G. Fritz and

Go.
Hotel— A. A. Gavan.
Wagon Maker — Thomas Backer.

The first plnsician in Benson was Dr.

D. M. Slemmons, who came here on August
9, 1873. Dr. Louis A. Austman came here
from Peru, lllinoi.s in 1874.

In 1S7S the town was incorporated. The
first officers were: president, D. Davis;
trustees, Charles Lauenstein, John Sclimidt,
Peter Petri, Henry Heineke, John Weast;
clerk. O. A. Tucker; treasurer, O. A. Cavan.
Benson Mill. The history of Benson should
not be written without an account of the
famous Benson mill that drew the atten-
tion of people far and wide. Anyone \\'ho
had H\'ed in Benson delighted in recalling
it. This old Dutch mill, constructed by
J. M. Schmidt and his brother in 1872,
was patterned after the old-style Dutch
monster of pre-historic days. (This mill
stood as a monument to the industry of
two sturdy Hollanders who came to Benson
\\'hen the prairie dogs and wohes were still
inhabitants of this section of the country. )

The mill received its power from four
great wings which were propelled by the
wind. These were each 40 feet in length
and consisted of lattice work on which
canvas could be stretched. The huge blades
turned the machinery which was largely
made of wood. One of the great wooden
wheels, below, measured 12 feet 7 inches
in diameter. The wooden cog wheels were
made with great skill and were fitted with
precision.

In 1895 the mill was bought by F. H.
Thielen, a native of Germany. He installed
an engine and new machmery and, instead
of grinding wheat, buckv\'heat was ground
into "Morning Glory Buckwheat Flour" and
"Saal's Prepared Buckwheat Flour." In
1902 Thielen enlisted additional capital
and organized The Benson Nhmufacturing
Co. and began the manufacture of baking
powder and extracts which were said to be
the purest and best on the market.

Later, the mill became the property of
J. H. Monk and was no longer used. Fi-
nally, Bruce Kinding became the owner
and dismantled the famous landmark, us-
ing some of the lumber to build the house
now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs.
Harlan Broers.
Publications. The first newspaper pub-

Woodford County Ilistonj

lished in Benson was the Bemon Post. B.
W. Kinsey began the publication in 1895,
but a short time later sold his interest to
D. Davis, who later transferred the paper
to Minonk.

In 1899, H. D. Lewis came to Benson
from Eureka and began to publish the
Benson Bee, which was a weekly publica-
tion. The subscription rate was one dollar
a year. On February 5, 1904, Mr. Lewis
pulilished an Industiicd Edition in which
he wrote about all the businessmen and
their places of business. Many interesting
facts for this histor\- \\'ere taken from that
paper. Lewis sold his interest to John
Eimers. Later Mr. Morwood. a former
minister at the Baptist church, published
the paper. Eldon Heighway was the last
pubhsher of the Bee.

Growtli of the Village. An industrial is-
sue of the Bemon Bee. published on Feb-
ruary 5, 1904, shows that the \illage had
made much progress the first 30 years of
its existence. Many attractixe homes had
been built and numerous business places
had been established. Tliis can readily be
seen in the following list:

J. E. Eckhart & Co.— General Contrac-
tors (owners, Jake & Henry Eckhart)

Benson Mill — Fred Tliielen

Roth & Gommels — General Merchandise
(owners, Jacob Roth, E. J. Gommels
and Louis Roth )

Painter and Decorator — J. C. Silldorff

Carpet Weax'er — Chris Keinhofer

Restaurant and Bakery (delicacies and
ice cream) — T. H. Kleen

Elexator — S. L. Peterson

Saloon — H. J. Heineke

Threshing and Shelling (7 outfits)— S. L.
Peterson

Real Estate — Harms and Peterson

Hardware and Implements — Herman
Woltzen & Co.

Shelling and Threshing— H. W'oltzen
and A. G. Reiner

General Merchandise — Hofl:man and
Bentfeld

Brick and Tile Business— Charles Peter-
son, manager

Phvsieian — Dr. D. Ferdinand Seidl

Auctioneer — J. F. Huxtable

Elevator — James Shields

Painter and Decorator — J. W. Hook

Claylon Toiinship

Fumral Director (also luriiitiiri' dialer

and wagon nianiifacturer) — H. E.

Backer
General Merchaiulise. W'oltzen Bros. —

Henry and Simon
Clothing Store — A. Fiiu-
Saloon— H. R. Ileiken
Druggist — F. E. Learned
Buteiier Shop. Sehroeder & Co. — Theo.

and .Albert Sehroeder
Veterinarian — M. Faw
Postmaster — Daniel Davis
Station Agent — .\ugust Schneider
Cla\ton Townsliip Tax ('olleetor — W. C^

Monk

Elevator. In describing (^hntoii Township,
historians stated that the soil was well
adapted for the ]5rodiiction of corn. Natiir-
alK. tills would create a need for grain
buxcrs and ele\ ators. In 19()4. Benson was
reported to be the busiest trading point on
the Santa Fe between Chicago and Pekin.

Samuel Peterson built the first elevator
in Benson in 187.3. It had a capaeit\- of
lO.OOO bushels. Later, when it was operateil
!)>■ hi.s son S. L. Peterson, the elevator's
capacit\' was increased. They handled
;d)out I(K).()()() bushels of grain a year.

The next \ear, 1874, a company com-

po.sed ot J. H. Miller. A. 11. iirubaker, and
F. D. Learned built a second ele\'ator with
a capacity of 15.()()() bushels. This elevator
was operated 1)\- Miller and Brubaker for
Bartlett and Co. of Peoria. They handled
about 200,000 busliels of grain a vear. In
addition to the graui business they shipped
about 4,000 head of hogs a year. In 1895,
J. F. Huxtable bought this elevator. Later
it became the propert)- of Jake Eckhart. He
sold it to Sherman Evey, and the Farmers
Co-op purchased it from him.

A third elevator, larger than either of the
others, was built in 1873 by George Fritz
and (^o. It had a capacity for storing 24,000
bushels of grain at a time. Later it was
operated by W. A. Pickernell and T. E.
Coleman. This elevator passed into the
hands of James Shields. It was replaced by
a larger modern one with a capacity of
70.000. Mr. Shields, who entered the grain
biiving business in 1896, was a native of
Clavtou Township and came to be well
known as a successful grain buyer. In ad-
dition to handling grain Mr. Shields also
was a coal dealer. This elevator is still in
use operated In (ihauncev Tallvn. Modern

.Main Mn rt cil Iv iison about the turn of tin i > nti

diying facilities ha\'e been installed and a
larger number of storage bins have been
erected to take care of the large corn yields.
The Benson Farmers Co-op Grain As-
sociation was organized in 1920 and a new
ele\ator was built. The lower part of the
old ele\'ator still stands and is used as a
storage building for feed sold by the
company-.

The first officers and directors were:
Jacob Schroeder, president; Frank M.
Hock, vice president; DeWitt E. Tallyn.
secretary-treasurer, Ralph Oltnian, Louis
M. Tjaden, Folkert Harms, George Hin-
richs, director. The manager was Charles
N. Bonges. The present officers and di-
rectors are: Everett Aeschiman, president;
Elmer Backer, vice president; William
Kapraun, secretary-treasurer; Lester On-
nen, George Tjaden, Edward Johnson,
Chas. Stephens, Eldon J. Harms, Robert
Harms, directors. James Schneider is the
manager.

This eknator has also erected large stor-
age and drying facilities. Total amount of
grain handled by the two elevators in Hen-
son last year was over 2.000,000 bushels. A
large percentage of this grain was trans-
ported by trucks to the ri\er ele\ators
where it was loaded on barges. The rest of
the grain is shipped on the Santa Fe.

Churches

Clayton Baptist Church. The first religious
organization in the township was the Clay-
ton Baptist Church. The society was organ-
ized on February 14, 1859 with a member-
ship of about 20 persons. Meetings were
held in home or a school house. Se\'en
years later in December, 1865, a church
had been built, which cost the society
$1,100. The pastor in charge was Re\-. \\'il-
liam Parker. The church was located two
miles east and one mile south of Benson,
with the church building in Clayton and
the cemetery across the road in Greene
Township.

In 1872 a parsonage was erected. His-
tory relates that in 1878 there were two
thrivmg Sunday schools. One was held in
the church with A. W. Forney as super-

Woodford County History

intendent; the other with T. E. Coleman as
superintendent was held in the \'illage. The
church then had a membership of 118 per-
sons.

St. John's Catholic Churcli. The building
of the Roman Catholic church in Benson
was started in 1873 by Re\'. Father Stein-
berg. The building is 40 feet wide, includ-
ing the chancel, 60 feet long, and cost the
denomination $1,700.

The first two baptisms recorded were
those of Sebastian Vogel and William D.
Ryan, July 11, 1878. The first marriage was
that of Henry Weast and Catharina Voelker.
These records were signed by Rev. Father
Steinberg, who was the second priest to
attend the congregation.

In |uly, 1877, the Capuchin Fathers from
Metamora took charge of the parish. The
first to sign the records was Re\'. Father
Francis Xa\'ier, and later Re\'. Father
Angelin. In Januaiy, 1879 the records were
signed by Rev. Father Peter Paul Gunder-
man, O.S.F.

In No\'ember, 1901, Rev. Father Chapins
succeeded Re\ . Father Bettrand who was
the last Franciscan to be in charge here.
Re\'. Father Peter Kluck was the second
secular priest assigned here. He came from
Peoria in September, 1902.

In December, 1903, Dominican Fathers
took charge of the church. Recent years
ha\'e brought man\- changes and impnne-
ments.

The Altar and Rosary Society is an ac-
ti\e organization in the work of the church.
It meets the first Tuesda\- e\ening of each
month. The St. John's Men's Society meets
e\-er\' third Tuesday e\ening.
Benson Baptist Church. The Benson Bap-
tist Sunday school was organized in Cole-
man's Hall, April 26, 1874. Religious ser\'-
ices were held in the hall until 1882, when
it was considered adxisable to build a
church. On Jul\- 22, 1883, the church was
dedicated. At the time no permanent
church organization had been efl:ected, so
at a meeting of 28 members of other Bap-
tist churches, it was decided to organize
a Baptist church in Benson.

Chiyton ToiniMliip

At a meeting on Maiili 2. 188(S. with
Re\-. E. C. DacK' as moderator, tlie clnircli
was organized and officers were elected.
The churcli was supplied In- interim pas-
tors initil 1892 when Re\-. Monvood be-
came the settled minister. ser\ing for fi\e
years. He was followed by brief pastorates
of Re\-. Jones. Re\-. Marple. and Re\'.
Spencer.

The parsonage was erected in 1902. The
pastorate of Rew Johnson began September
1. 1902. In 1904 the elunch Mnden\ent re-
pairs which cost between $700 and $800.
The chnrch has had e.\tensi\e impro\e-
ments in recent years.

At this time the Snnday school has an
enrollment of 80. The Missionar\- Societ\'
is \er\- acti\e in the work of the churcli.
M.F.. Clnircli. \ Methodist class was or-
ganized in Benson in 1890 by Re\-. Fore-
man, then pastor at Belle Plain. Ser\ices
were luld the first year in the school house.
In 1891. a church building was erected, the
contractor and builder was P. M. Burton
of Miiionk. A parsonage was built in 1894
and a barn built in 1896. During most of
this period, the following were tnistees:
F. D. Leanied. Henr> Wilkcy, V. Hou.se-
worth, John Huxtable. and A. II. Brubaker,
who was president of the building com-
mittee.

Rev. Foreman w as here two years. Other
pastors who ser\ ed dining the early years
of the church were: Rev. McMean, nine
months: Re\'. Schenet, three months; Rev.
Bowers, two years; Re\'. May, two years;
Rev. Da\'id, three years and nine mouths:
He\'. Daxids father, three months. Rev.
O. P. Graves was serving his fourth year
in 1904. By that time the membership had
increased from 16 at the time of the org:iui-
zation to 96.

Services were licid in this church con-
tinuously until 1949. wlieii members of the
congregation united with the Roanoke
Methodist Church.

In the s])ring of 19.54 the building was
sold to Wilbur .\Ioritz, who with the help
of his father-in-Iavv Fay Hinds, converted
the structure into an attractixc modern
dwelling. The top half was removed and

the bottom half is still on its original foun-
dation. Most of the old lumber was used
in the constniction of the house.
St. Paul Evaiii^clical Lutliciaii Church. In
the spring of 1911 a number ol Lutherans
in the Benson area decided to take steps
toward organizing a congregation in Ben-
son. .\ committee was selected to secure a
building site and make pkins for construct-
ing a church.

Serxices were first held in the Methodist
and Baptist churches. Rc\'. II. Telthorster
and Re\'. C. J. Lange wi'ie the suppK' pas-
tors. B\- July 11. the committei' had secured
a building site from C.erhart Haase, and
plans for a chnrch building were approved.
Tile length of thi' structuii' w as 62 feet, the
width .'34 feet and the height ol the steeple
SO feet. Tlie cost of the building was ap-
proximateK $.5..500. B\ late fall the build-
ing was completed and still ser\es as the
basic structure of the church toda\ .

In \o\ ember, 1911. a meeting was called
by President Doerman. .\ congregation was
organized and the Model (Constitution of
the Joint Synod of Ohio was adopt(>cl. Tlie
name chosen was St. Paul Exangelical
Lutheran Church of Benson. .\t the first
meeting only the minimum nnmber of
meinbers were present to sign the con-
stitution and elect the necessary officers.
Charter niembers were Fred Carrels, John
Uphoff, John Weber, Sr., F"red Linneman,
Jacob Monk, Hie Frerrichs, and Wait Up-
hoff. \ call was extended to Re\-. Fred
Seifert. He accepted tlu' call and was in-
stalled Januan- 7. 1912. The new church
building was dedicated the same clay.

-According to the church records, the first
baptism was that of Irene Thierer, infant
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. l-'red Thierer.
The first wedding was held on February
12, 1912, when John A. Johusou and Fenna
Gerdes were m;uriecl.

This congregation has had oiiK four pas-
tors: Rev. Fred Seifert, January' 7, 1912 to
Januar>- 2.3, 1919: Rev, W. Wei'dhaas, Feb-
ruary 20, 1919 to Noxember 7, 1920; Rev.
Seifert recalled and served eight years until
January- 19. 192.3; Re\-. O. .\. Rr;umscliweig
installed -May 6, 1928 and ser\ed until June

Woodford County History

12, 1949. The present pastor, Re\'. C. J.
Cess was installed October 9, 1949.

On September 11, 1914 it was decided
to build a new parsonage. The contract
was awarded to W. H. Brubaker.

This congregation was closely associated
with Immanuel Evangelical Church of
Minonk. Pastor Seifert was instrumental in
organizing that congregation and for 25
years (1930-1954) Immanuel and St. Paul
fonned a parish.

Many improxements have been made
since 1941. A building for an Educational
Unit was finislied late in die fall of 1957.
In preparation for the fiftieth anniversary
in 1961, extensi\'e improvements were
made.

St. Pauls now has an adult membership
of 250, and a Sunday school enrollment of
100. Active organizations of the church
are: the Mission Aid Society, the Luther
League, the Fellowship Club, and a re-
cently organized choir.

Schools

The first school in Clayton Township
was taught in an upper room of the house
of fohn M. Dax'idson. P. H. Daxidson was
the pioneer educator, as he was the in-
structor of the 14 youngsters during the
winter months of 1856-57. The first school
house was built during the ne.xt summer
— a small building on the southwest comer
of Section 5. James McChesney taught the
first term. Later a more substantial build-
ing was erected.

At a meeting of the school tiiistees J- M.
Davison, Samuel Shepler, and Jacob P.
Robinson on June 2, 1856, Robert Hester
was elected treasurer. They proceeded to
lay out tlie township into nine districts
consisting of four sections each. At that
time some of the districts did not have
enough inhabitants to organize, so children
were permitted to attend in other districts.
The first school, known as Jefferson, was in
Distiict 3. New schools were built until
each district was supplied, and it was said
that the school facilities of this township
were not excelled b\- any township in the
countv.

The Benson school was first located a
mile east of town. After the town was
established the school was moved. In 1878
a new building was erected. It was a frame
building 28 by 46 feet, two stories high.
Later a one room addition was built. In
1900, there were nine schools in operation
in Clayton Township, with an enrollment
of 392.'

There was also a private Gennan school
within the limits of Benson. It was erected
by the Germans of the community in 1875.

As the towii grew, there was a demand
for more adec^uate accommodations. In
1905 a modem school building was erected.
It was a brick building; the cost of the
complete structure was $15,000. The board
in charge of the construction of this build-
ing was S. L. Peterson, H. D. Lewis and
F. VV. Linneman. This building was used
for both grade and high school students.

On April 3, 1920 an election was held
to detennine whether to organize a com-
munity high school. The proposition passed.
At that time the school building was re-
modeled and added to in order to make
additional room for the high school pro-
gram that was operated in the grade school
building.

A new Community High School building
was built in the southwest section of town,
and was completed in 1942. The old build-
ing was used as a grade school for grades
one through eight.

In 1948, the voters approved a unit dis-
trict. Tlie imit became effective July 1,
1956. Beginning the next term, the high
school students from Benson were trans-
ported to Roanoke that same time a junior
high school program was initiated for the
entire unit using the Benson High School
building as the Junior High School attend-
ance center.

In 1962-63 additional classrooms (2), a
hall, locker rooms and rest rooms for girls
and for boys were added to the Junior
High building. The present enrollment in
Junior High is 179.

The old grade school building is used
for all grades from kindergarten through
the sixth. The cafeteria is also in this build-

Cldyloit Tounship

iiig. The enrollment at tlie grade scliool is
156.

Some teachers, wlio dexoted inaii\- \ears
of tlieir lives teaching the youth oi this
communit\-. will long be rememhered 1)\
former pupils. One of them, \'erda Bru-
l)aker Jochums, .spent 24 years teaching in
the grade school and high school here. -She
is also remembered for coaching the high
school p]a\s. Blanciie Evans Abrahams, al-
though not a nati\e, made Benson her
home and taught primary- pupils for 26
years. Lawrence E. Toole taught countr\-
schools in this community, also high school,
grade school and junior high in Benson for
a total of 41 years.

Miss Martha Swan, who is a resident
of Clayton Township, taught in this com-
munity for 51 years^a remarkable record.

Banks

Banks ha\e pla\ed a prominent role in
the history of Benson and the surrounding
communit\-. The Benson Bank was opened
in 1880 b\- B. F. Zinser. In 1900 the name
was changed to First State Bank. In 1910
it had capital stock of $25,000. and a sur-
plus of $20,000. M that time the officers
were: president, S. L. Peterson; \ice-presi-
dent. Josi'pli Pickard; cashier, F. N. Tallyn;
assistant cashier, F. C. Tucker. F. N.
TalKn later became president of the bank.
On December .31. 1931 this bank ceased to
operate.

Farmer's State Bank of Benson. A second
bank was organized in 1904 by A. II. Bru-
bakcr & Co. and was called the Farmer's
Bank. It had a cajiital stock of $25,000. In
1910 the olfieers weri': president, A. H.
lirubaker; assistant cashier. R. C. Ficken.
iliis bank was first operated as pri\ately-
owned bank but was elianged to a state
bank about 1913.

The original office of the bank occupied
a building 25 feet b\- 75 feet. In Jul\' of
1955 the bank purchased the building east
of the original building and increased the
size to 50 feet by 75 feet and completely
remodeled both buildings into a modern
one. Tlie bank's assets in 1955 were ap-

proximateK' $2,000,000 .mil a capital of
$150,000.00 and total resources amounted
to $7,250,000.00. Tile bank personnel now
consists of nine employees. Carl E. Tliomp-
son (inaetixe president of the bank) has a
record of .57 \ears in the banking business.
James L. Tliompson is executive vice presi-
dent and has been with the bank in \arious
capacities for 30 years.

Improvements and Additions. A system
of water works was establishid in 1891.
The committee appointed to in\ estigate the
\ari()ns plans was composed of Henry
Heineke, Joseph Bucklear, and A. H. Bru-
baker. The water tower was built about the
same time and is still in use today. It stands
as a sort of sentinel overlooking the town.
Tlie original well was near the tower. Two
wells now furnish water for the \ illage. The
last one was drilled in 1965, on a two-acre
plot north of town. This land was donated
to the \ illage by Ben ,\. Miller.

A telephone exchange was established
in 1902. .\ stock company was organized
with a capital stock of $2,500. In 1910 there
were 300 phones on the exchange. We now
recei\e service from the Ceiieral Telephone
Companv- of Illinois. In Sejitember, 1963,
direct dial phones were jmt iiito use. .\t
present there are 4.36 phones on the Benson
exchange.

The first concrete sidewalk in town was
laid by the Kankakee .\rtifieial .Stone Co.
in 1904. It ran for a distance of three blocks
from where Frank Kapraun's house now
stands toward the west. The walks on i<'ront
Street were laid the next year.

Electric power lines came to Benson in
1916. Street lights were turned on the eve-
ning of November 2. Most of the homes
were wired .so homemakers could make use
of main- conveniences. New \'ai')or lights
were installed on Front Street in 1960.

In 1949 it was voted to organize the
Benson Communitv Fire District. The first
truck was delivered in .\ugust. 1950. Lester
Rudin was the first fire chief. There are 25
men in the fire department. Equipment
consists of three fire trucks, a resuscitator,
and an ambulance, vvhic'h is radio efpiipped,

and is used for rescue work. A new fire
house was built on Front Street in 1952.

Original directors were Glen Peterson,
president; Frank Kapraun, secretary; and
Dick Redenius. When the latter retired,
Carl Vogel took his place and these three
are still serving. Harold Strauch has been
fire chief since 1951. His assistants are
Herbert Koch and Lyle Heineke. Herman
Redenius is secretary.

In recent years many new homes have
been built on all available lots in Benson.
Henry Huschen sold lots north of Highway
116 where homes have been built. Another
addition north of the Huschen ground was
opened. On this ground Dr. Frank Lock
built a home and office. An apartment
house was built liy Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey
Tallyn in the same addition.

Organizations

Woodford county has the distinction of
ha\ ing the first county Y^^'CA in the world.
This work was started in the county in
May, 1908. Tlie county was organized the
same as if it were a city. A branch was
organized in Ben.son in the fall of 1908,
and continued its work for many years.
Later this organization became the Benson
Community Club. In 1924, the name was
changed to Benson Woman's Club. The
dull meets once a month from September
to May. Mrs. Lloyd Wagner is the presi-
dent for 1968.

The American Legion Post 454 of Ben-
son was organized in 1946. This is an ac-
tive Post with 101 members. Tlie Legion
hall is on Front Street and Robert Murphy
is the commander.

The American Legion Au.xiliary, Unit
454. was organized in 1946. This unit has
90 members (70 adults and 20 juniors) and
is very actixe in many phases of the work
of the organization. The first president was
Mrs. Milledge Thomas. The president for
1968 is Mrs. Raymond Schoon.

The Benson Garden Club meets the third
Thursday of each month from March to
October. Mrs. Eugene Yount is the presi-
dent for 1968.

The Benson Grade School Mother's Club

Woodford County History

meets the second Thursday ex'cning of each
month of the school year. All mothers who
have children in school from kindergarten
through the sixth grade automatically be-
come members. The president for 1967-68
is Mrs. Robert Meinhold.

Tlie Benson Junior Woman's Club was
organized February 7, 1968. The first regu-
lar meeting was held at the home of Mrs.
Wesley Trantina on February 20. This new
club has 27 members and will meet the
third Tuesday e\'ening of the month from
September through May. Mrs. James
Schneider is the president.
Old Time Blacksmitliing Almost a Lost Art.
Guy Mann still operates his shop in Ben-
son. He learned his trade from Martin
Weber at Melbem, Ohio. After serxing four
years as an apprentice, (which was re-
quired in those days) he owned his owm
shop at Cecil, Ohio. After serving that com-
munity for eight years, he settled in Ben-
son, where he has operated his shop for 4.3
years. Mr. Mann has worked at his trade
for over half a century shoeing horses and
repairing x'ehicles and machinery.

Mr. Mann celebrated his fiftieth >'ear of
blacksmithing at the Illinois State Fair in
1965. He was employed by the state to set
up an old-time shop as an educational pro-
gram to bring back the lost art of black-
smithing. Since then Mr. Mann set up an
old-time shop at the Central Thresherman's
reunion at Pontiac.

Longfellow wrote the poem "The Village
Blacksmith" when the work was a X'ery
necessary and important part of e\'eryday
life. What would the poet say if he kne-v
that the 1964 surxey showed that 215 forge
welding blacksmith shops are all that re-
main in the United States. Benson is for-
tunate in ha\'ing a member of the now \'an-
ishing art of blacksmithing.

Business in Benson in 1968

Meismer Produce and Kent Feeds — O. A.

(Tony) Meismer
Plumbing and E.xcaxating — Ernest Gerde^
Koch's Garage — Herbert Koch
A & M Grocery— Alfred and Mabel Man-

ninga
Monk's Variety — Cassia Monk

Clayton Toun.^hip

Benson Karmor's Co-op. Eknator — Jim

Schnt'idcr, manager
Sliields Ele\'ator — Chauncey Tall\n
Cal's TajT — Caoxin Haase
Benson Cafe — Diek Niemeyer
Benson I.aimdry — Diek Niemeyer
Monk's Ciroeerv — Enu'st Monk
Lons Longbraneli Tap — Mrs. l.miell

Morgenstern
Hcineke Electric (wiring ami appliance.s)

— Joe B. Joehnm.s
Illinois Prairie District Librar\- (snb sta-
tion) — Tillie Kolb. librarian
Beauty and Flower Shop — Mrs. .\ngeline

Haase
Trantina's Cas .Station — Virgil Trantina
Kedenins Garage (on Higli\\a\- 116) — Carl

Redenins
Peterson Slielling — Clen Peterson
Mann's Blacksmith Shoji — Guy Mann
Kent Lumber Company — Ernest Carrels,

manager
Tidoma Fertilizer — Skip Brooks, manager
Painting and Decorating — Jack and Bill

MilU'r
W'olt/en Trucking — Louis Woltzen
Qualit\ Oil Company — Charles (Chuck)

Rndin
\\'ilcox Folkers Memorial Home
.AnctioneiT — Clark Pinkiiam
C>)m Shelling (rural (,'la\ton ) — Robi^rt

Hanns
Kapraun Wi'lding (on High\\a\ 116) —

Roger Kapraun

Mrs. Shirley \\'olf is acting postmaster
at this time. Mrs. Henrietta Hinds, who
had been postmaster here for 16 \ears, re-
tired in Jul). 1967. She first sened as sub-
stitute clerk beginning in 1947. Her aji-
jwintment as postmaster was confinncd b\
the U.S. Senate in September. 1951. She
has also served as postmaster in Secor be-
fore coming here.

It is interesting to note that in 19.56 the
Petersons had 15 threshing rigs in ojicra-
tion. The grandfather, Simon Peterson, his
.son, H. L. Peterson and grandsons Glen,
Raymond, and N'irgil ( three generations )
were all engaged in this bnsin(>ss. \ow
Glen ojx'rates the com shelling business
assisted b\ his brotlnT RaNniond, and his
son Errol who is the fourth gcni'ration en-
gaged in this business. Bill Fischer is also
an employee.

Lyle Heineke is the third generation of
the Heinekes to be in business in Bi'uson.

The grandfath(>r, Henr\- Heineke, was one
of the first businessmen here. Lyie's father,
John Heineke, was in the grocery business
here for 29 years, now I.\ le is in the electri-
cal business.

Ernest Monk ioilowed his father, \\ ill, in
the grocery business.

Chauncey TalKn is the second genera-
tion of his famil) in business here. His
father and his uncle, Bruce and Sidney,
were in the furniture and undertaking busi-
ness here for many years.

Darrell Kirby succeeded his grandfather
Cy. Lasher as a barber.

Oldest Residents. The oldest resident of
Benson is Mr. Henr\ Heinken. who cele-
brated his 99th birthday last December 21.
He was bom in Oslriesland, Ciermany and
came here with his parents when he was 16
\ears old. He resides with his daughtei- and
her husband, Mr. and .Mrs. Da\id Moritz,
Sr.

Mrs. Lena Mennen celebrated her 91st
birthda\- last September 1.3. She too was
born in Osfriesland, Germany. She came to
this countiy with her parents and an older
brother when the\' were small children.
They first settled in Peoria and came to this
county when .Mrs. .Mennen was a voung
lady. For the past four years she had made
her home with her daughter and liusband
.Mr. and Mrs. Eilert Johnson. M present she
is being cared for at the Roanoke Manor
Nursing Home.

Memories of Benson

People are alwa\s having dilFiculty fol-
lowing directions in Benson as the streets
are laid ixuallel to the railroad, which runs
diagonalK. (doming in ofl the highway it
is somewhat contusing. People like to say
the town is "crooked."

Folks like to "kid" Bensi>nites about be-
ing homesick for Benson w lii'u they are out
of sight of the water tower.

Once a little jail house stood wvay the
water tower. Kids callicl it the "calaboose."
Residents can't recall anvone being locked
vip there, but tramps or hoboes were al-
lowed to spend the night.

The firehoiise stood nearln . realK it was

Woodford County History

just a shed where the hose cart was kept.
The old fire bell hung abo\'e it, and in ca;e
of fire someone would hurry to ring the
bell. Several men would run to get the cart
when the old bell clanged.

An old blacksmith shop stood on State
Street and early in the morning you could
hear Mr. Bridges pounding out the plow
shares. You coidd really hear the anvil ring.

Bridges' hotel stood on the corner where
Arnold ^^'ehking's house now stands. Here,
tra\eling salesmen could spend the night.
Men who came from out of town to \\ork
in Benson could get room and board.

There once was a creamery, down by the
tracks, where butter and cheese were made.
A large shed has been erected there now
in which township road machinery is
stored.

The old stock>'ards ha\'e long been gone.
That was a biis\- place because lots of cat-
tle and hogs were shipped by Santa Fe.
Now they are hauled by truck. Tony Meis-
mer's Produce building is on that location.

Flessner's store was in the building that
is now the Legion Hall. There you could
buy anything from a can of beans or a
pound of coffee, to a pair of shoes or a
washing machine.

Benson Lumber Company will long be
remembered. W. H. Brubaker bought the
business in 191 L Many homes and fami
buildings in diis community were built by
this firm.

The "Old Opera House" was in the hall
aboxe the lumber company building. All
the high school plays were presented there,
and it seemed that old stock train always
came whistling and rumbling through just
in the middle of an e.xciting scene. There
were dances, basketball games, and bo.x

socials held up there too. Once somebod>'
fell down the back stairs and threatened to
sue. There were some pretty gay times up
there, but finally it was no longer safe to
use. Kent's use it for storage space now.

Peterson's pond was cjuite an attraction
years ago. Lots of skating was done there
on winter e\'enings. The little boys liked
to sneak out to Schroeder's pond in the
summer time to try for a fish or float on a
crude raft.

ViUage Officials of Benson in 1968

Xhiyor — Glen Peterson

Clerk — Walter Thomas

Treasurer — Barrel Kirby

Alderman — Ernest Gerdes, Lyle Heineke,
Herbert Koch, Bill Fischer,
Roger Nonnan. and Don
Schroeder

Attomev' — James Riley

Township Officials in 1968

Superxisor — Lloyd Wagner

Assessor — Frank Wolf

Touai Clerk — Wayne Patterson

Road Commissioner — Albert Gerdes

Auditors — Don Punke, Eilert Johnson, and

Ernest Gerdes
Population according to 1960 census —
Town — 427 Township — 92.3

Benson, Illinois

Now you ha\e read some historx' of our

little toun
We don't claim an\' fame or great renowai
But we are proud of Illinois, our great state.
Her sesquicentennial we will celebrate.
There were days of joy and da\s with tears,
But Illinois has gone far in one hundred

fift\' \ears.

R. T.

Ciiigei lOwiisliip History

i>y

Mh. and Mhs. Irvin Kennell

Cruger Towiisliip iiuludes 36 sections,
except the East Half of Section 12 and the
East Half of Section 19 which ha\e become
a part of Olio Township. It is known as
Fractional Township 26 North, Range 2
West of the Third Principal Meridian.

Cniger Townsliip was originalK part ot
Olio Township and much of tiie history
pt'rtaining to C.'niger also pertains to Olio.
In the \ear ISTO the lollow ing officers were
elected: George Boys, super\isor; R. N.
Radford, collector; Jesse Meek, assessor:
Peter Moxemont. town clerk; R. C. Stewart
and Thomas Ellis, connnissioners of high-
ways; John McPeak and John Hanfma!i.
justices of peace; John and Lewis Nhcrs.
constables.

The township deri\ed its name from the
small station within its borders, known as
Cruger Station. This little station, which
was originally known as Cruger Village,
was named after William Cruger who was.
at that time, superintendent of the T.P.&W.
Railroad. The \illage was laid out by Mr.
Akers of Peoria, who bought the land from
Hiram Parker. The \illage plat was made
by E. P. Pratt of Peoria.

Cruger Township is mostl\- good. le\el
iarming ground except for the eastern part
bordering Olio Township, which is cjuite
rolling with a good supply of maple, oak.
liickor\', walnut and elm trees. Walnut
Creek (lows through this area, which made
it most desirable for the earl\- settlers to
build their log cabins.

In the earh 19th C^i'utur), Indians tre-
ciuenth' roamed this part of Woodford
Count\'. In the \ear 1830, when an old
Indian chief, Shabona, came to settle in
what was then called W;dnut C.rove, the

early settlers, fearing some treachery, drove
him away. It was said that this nuide the
old chief ver\- angr\-.

It is possible that there were white set-
tlers before the year 1827, but the earliest
known settlers were the Daniel Meek fam-
il\- who settled in that \ear. Other families
know n to lunt- li\ ed in the area were James
Martin, Robert and J;unes Rird, Joseph
Dillon, Moores, Nathan Owen, Thomas De-
weese, James Rayburn and John Stevenson.
.\ll of these were known to ha\e li\(>d here
in 1S:3().

For man\- \ears Cruger Township was
made up of a rund farm population. Since
1930, the farm population luis steadiK de-
creased and the population of Cruger Sta-
tion has also decreased. In spite of the de-
crease in these areas the total number of
people living in the townsliip li;is increased
since the de\elopment of se\er;d residential
areas known as Eureka Knolls Subdix ision
(1939), Edgewood (1942), and Lakeview
.\cres ( 1966). There has also been develop-
ment around Lake Eureka, as well as pri-
\ate homes built on small acreages through-
out the Township. The latest census of
Cruger Township (1960) was 535.

The Harper and Sander Implem(>nt Com-
pany started business in 1946. In 1953 this
company sold its business to Loren Leman
w ho has operated it as the Leman Imple-
ment Compan\-. Eight people are employed
in that business at the present time. Haiper
and Sander opened another business in
1955. and now emplo\' bet\\-een 50 to 60
people. Dr\- Gas Station located .south of
Cruger was established by Samuel Leman
and sold to Northern Propane Gas Co. in
March 1961. They employ five or six peo-

Woodford County Ilisfoni

Above picture is of the old warehouse and elevator taken about 1900. The eIe\ator west of the County
blacktop was built about 1904 and was about the same capacity as the older elevator. It was remo\ed
in 1940. The new elevator, which has replaced the west one, was built in 1965 and added to in 1967. The
capacity of the present elevator is 1,000,000 bushels making it the largest in \\'oodford Coiuit\ .

pie. In 1949. Concrete Products opened a
.small industry, making cattle feed hunks
and septic tanks. They employ three men.
Rivinius Inc. moved from Olio to Cruger.
They employ 65 to 70 people. The first
• • grain warehouse was huilt north of the

tracks, east of the county blacktop by a Mr.
King. About 1854, the grain wareliouse was
purchased by J. N. Harlan and John Metzer
for the sum of $700.00 They spent $2,500.00
to enlarge the capacity to 30.000 bushels.
This elevator is still in use. The old grain
warehouse was torn down about 1910.

The first railroad in Cruger Township
was completed to Cruger Station in 1854.
It was knowii as Peoria and Oquawka Rail-
road. The first railroad station was built in
1854 and the railroad took on the name
Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw, known today
as Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad, or
more familiarly as the T.P. & W. The only
other railroad through Cruger Township

.-. i .,'1 i.'.k

Contract agreement for construction of Farmers
Elevator at Cruger.

Cniger Towuship

,^«^-

The nov <lc\;it()r, wliiih li;is replact-d the west
one, was built in 1965 antl ailclcd to in 19fi7. The
capacity of the present elexator is 1,()(KI,()()() hush-
els making it the largest in Woodford Counts. It
was huilt at a cost of $672,000.

WU.S the Pekin and Southwestern Hailroad.
later purchased by tlie Ateheson, Topeka &
Santa Fe.

The first piil)Hf road throngli Cruder
Tounsliip was laid out in 1S36 !)>■ Daniel
Travis and James MeC'lure. It eoinnieneed
at what was known as the Cruger Iiridge
on Walnut Creek and extended to Wa.sh-
ington. 111. Toda\' Cruger Township is bor-
dered on the east 1)\' Route 117. Route 24
passes the tow nship from cast to w-est along
wliat was probably tlie first road.

The first justice of the peace in Cruger
Township was Daniel Meek wlio was ap-
pointed in 1829. The first plnsiciau was
Dr. Janiis .Mitchell, who came in 1S.35. The
first minister was Re\'. Dc\ton Mitchell.
lie was a Rresb\terian and was in the
neighborhood about 1S.33 and 1S34. Wil-
liam Iloshor was the first school teacher.
lie taught in the \-car 1S31.

Benjamin J. Radtord came from Chris-
tian County, Kentucky in 1834. He settled
in what is now Cruger Township and re-
mained here until his death in September
1857. He planted the first grove of locust
trees in the county. One of his sons later
became President of ICureka College and
another son was editor anti owner ot the
[•'.mcka Journal.

Among the early settlers in Walnut
Grove who were active in advancing Chris-
tian worship were Barton Stone, Alexander
and William Campbell. Their desire was to
establish a church as nearK' like tlic early
New Testament Church as possible. The
first meetings were held in homes, barns,
schools, and in the gro\es. This type of
worship continued until 1847 when a frame
building was erected in Olio Township, In
1857 when the membership increased to
more than 200. the>' met in a schoolhouse in
Ouger X'illagc and decidi'd to build a new
church three miles northwest of Eureka.
The building was completed the same year.
This was originalK' known as tlu' Mt. Zion
Christian Church antl it was a stabilizing
infiucnce in tlii' commum'ty initil 1920
when the population trend had shifted to
Eureka and the attendance was too small
to continue services. The membership
moved back to Olio and built a new church
which was later known as the Disciples of
Christ.

A .Methodist church was built in Cruger
\'illage about 1850; it was moved to Eureka
about 1865. .Another Methodist church,
located in the southeast corner ot ('rugi-r
Township, was built in the early 19th
Centurv'. It was closed in 1897.

William Iloshor, ( nienlioued in tlu' gen-
eral historv of Woodford ('oimtv as one of
tlie pioneer school teachers ) taught the
first school in what now is Cruger Town-
ship. It was taught in 1831 in an old cabin
which stood up near the head of Walmit
Grove. His school lasted but a short time
and soon after its su.spension. Jojjn Woosley
opened a school near the place where
Hoshor had taught. The first structure built
in the neighborhood for school puiposes
was erected in 1834. near the spot where
the schools were taught. Thret' schools
which wert' built about 1850 continued
until the schools consolidated. Thev- were
the Hav School in the southern part of the
township, which closed in 1949; the Ouger
school in Cruger X'illage vv;is closed in
1950. and the Mt. Zion School, near the
Mt. Zion (.'hurch. was closetl long before
consolidiition about 1915. There are no

Woodford County History

schools in Cruger Townsliip at this time.

The largest cemetery in the Township is
near the site of the old Mt. Zion Chnrch.
It is well kept but seldom used for burial
purposes since the Disciples of Christ ha\e
their burial place in Eureka. The Methodist
burial place is located at the northeast cor-
nor of the Kaufman Park Golf Course west
of Eureka. It has not been used for burial
in many years.

In 1922 a golf course was built on 48
acres of land on Route 24 west of Walnut
Creek. This land was later donated by Ben
Kaufman, placed under jurisdiction of a
board of trustees, and is presently known
as the Kaufman Park Golf Course. This
beautiful nine-hole course is enjoyed, not
only by the local residents, but by many
others throughout the Central Ilhnois area.
On April 17, 1941, the Eureka City Council
appro\'ed construction of a dam for creat-
ing what is now known as Eureka Lake.
The following year, construction of the
dam was completed and heavy rains soon

filled the lake. This lake is located in
Cruger Township about one mile south-
west of Eureka and now covers about 35
acres. Eureka Lake Park is one of the most
scenic areas in Central Illinois.

The only community organization was
known as the Cruger Community Club and
was organized in 1930 and the meetings
were held in Cruger Township Hall. Meet-
ings were held once each month and the
club was active until 1935 when some of
the most enthusiastic supporters moved
away. The Cruger Unit of the Homemakers
extension association was organized in
1930. The present membership of nineteen
ladies meets once a month in the homes
of the members. Originally the occupation
in the to\\aiship was agricultural. Since
1940 the trend has very definitely changed
to industrial workers and business men.
Many of the people living in the subdi-
visions within the township work in Peoria
or in the industries and businesses within
the township or in Eureka.

Xi-'-'y

El Paso I

OWllSlllIJ

by
Mrs. Ethel Eft

El. I'-X.so Tow NSHii' lies in tla- .soutlieast
corner of W'oodford Comity. The towiLship
ineasnri's .si.\ miles north to sonth aiul onK
tour miles east to west.

The four .southern seetions wire parlialK'
covered witli woods, being in the timber
l)elt along the Mackinaw Hixer, but the
rest of the township was prairie, co\ered
with grass which frequenth' grew eight or
ten fei't tall and became a raging inferno
when set on fire during a summer storm.

Two small creeks flowed east, joined,
and then flowed southward into the Macki-
naw lUxer. .Another short l)ranch flowed
south, draining the southwest corner of the
township. Dotted o\er the prairie were a
number of ponds, some ha\ing water only
during the spring, while others seldom
drii'd up compietel)'. Tlu'V provided excel-
lent breeding places for thi' moscjuitoes re-
sponsible for the "chills and fe\er'" w hich
plagued the earh' pioneers.

Stage and post roads were well estab-
lished in the I830's.

Thomas and Permeliu RadclifF Di.xon set-
tled hi Kansas Township about f829 and
operated a water-powered "corn cracker"
grist mill on the Mackinaw Hi\er near the
ford which still bears his name. lie pur-
chased several parcels of land in that area
before moving in 1S33 to El Paso Town-
ship. The house was located south of the
present Harold Kring home. Because they
did not patent the land ( purchased from
the government) until .\pril 16. 1841. there
has been some confusion as to the identity
of the first residents of the township.

John and David Hibbs and their wives
patented land in Section 28 in 1835. as had
another brother. William. loliii and Hannah

Hibbs and David and Susan Hibbs located
in this section in 1839.

Caleb and Elizabeth Horn settled about
1842, in the triangle between the stage
route between Bloomington and Hennepin.
Here they operated a post office known
as Roxan, though no one seems to know the
source of the name.

Bv- 1853 at li>ast 17 families had settled
in the township. Most of the homes were
small, though few were built of logs. Some
of the lumber was hauled from as far away
as Pekin, while others were built from
lumber sawed in mills along the Mackinaw
or in (Greene Township.

Township Organized

In .April 1855, El Paso Township was
organized, with W. W. Sears the first siiper-
vi.sor. In the spring election of 1891 the
question of reorganizing under the general
law carried by a large majority, and
El Paso's double representation on the
county board (one from tlic township and
another from the city) ended.

Civic Development. '\\n Act to Incorporate
tlie Town of El Paso," was approved and
published in the acts of the Illinois General
Assciublv', dated Februarv' 22, 1861. It was
published the same year in Illinois Private
Laiis. pages 625-30. and is the earliest
known reference to El Paso.

The act provided for a president and
four trustees, to be elected annually; gave
the boundaries of the town, duties of of-
ficers; provided for taxes, elections, ordi-
nances, roads, labor, and education.

Only two references to activities of this
early village government have been lo-
cated. .An ordinance was published in the

September 9, 1865 issue of the El Paso True
Patriot, regarding certain sidewalks. It was
signed by J. D. Park, president, and P.
Boyles, clerk of the \illage board of trus-
tees. The November 25, 1S65 issue of the
same paper carried ordinances signed by
Park as president and J. Fishburn as clerk.
Several issues of the EI Paw Journal of
later dates mention VV. R. Willis as being
the first justice of the peace.

The first council room was located in the
Strathman Building on East Front Street,
which burned in 1882. The next was in the
Eagle Block at the corner of Front and
Central streets, which burned in 1894.
Some city records were lost in both fires,
but the book which contains the minutes
of the City Council following El Paso's
organization as a city in 1867, is still in
existence.

When El Paso organized under a special
charter on March 9, 1867, it was composed
of two wards, all the territory east of the
Illinois Central Railroad being in the First
Ward; that west of the railroad, the Second
Ward. When El Paso discarded its special
charter in 1891 and organized under the
General Law, the Third Ward was all the
area south of the T.P. & W. Railroad, with
the I.e. Railroad the division between the
First and Second wards, as previously.

Railroads

The Illinois Central Railroad was built
in 1852-1853 from LaSalle to Bloomington,
largely with grants of land in alternating
sections. Town sites were surveyed along
the route and named by the railroad of-
ficials. The section between Dunleith (now
East Dubuque) and Bloomington was
originally designated as the Sixth Division.
Kappa received its name from the 10th
letter of the Greek alphabet because it was
No. 10 station, counting south from Dun-
leith.

A section house, a residence for the rail-
road agent, and a depot were built in 1852,
and several residences and a railroad ware-
house had been added before the first train
came through on May 23, 1853. Sometime
that year or early in 1854 the post office,

Woodford County History

known as Roxan, was mo\ed into the vil-
lage and William Jones became the first
postmaster, with the office in his general
store. He called the place Montrose, but
the railroad continued to use the name of
Kappa, so Jones finally agreed, and the
early name remains to the present.

A number of people began to see the
advantages of extending the Peoria and
Oquawka Railroad east from Peoria to the
state line to provide a link with the east,
the Illinois legislature autliorizing such a
line "on the most eligible route — not more
than twenty miles north or south of a line
— through LaFayette, Indiana."

George L. Gibson and James H. Wathen,
Washington, Illinois businessmen, learned
that preliminary surveys would take the
road through Panola, though other pro-
moters were presenting claims for other
routes. They acquired an unentered half
section of land in Section 5, from four
Virginia veterans of the War of 1812, to
whom the government had granted the
land as a reward for their army service. On
April 20, 1854, their original town plan was
ready for filing, but it was not done until
May 6, 1857, because they did not wish to
rexeal their plans to the other contenders
for the railroad's location.

After numerous difficulties and delays,
work on the railroad u'as resumed in the
summer of 1855 and the last rails were the
junction with the Illinois Central Railroad
on April 1, 1856. So far as can be learned,
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hazlett and
a small building which had been used by
workmen while the road was under con-
struction, were the only evidence of a set-
tlement near the junction.

The first train which arrived at the junc-
tion brought the lumber that was used by
the Jenkins brothers for construction of a
general store, which was located on the
corner of Front and Cherry streets a block
east of the junction. The streets had been
surveyed and named by the promoters
prior to completion of the railroad.

In the spring of 1854 a name was se-
lected for the town, after considerable dis-
cussion, and rejection of an ofter of $250

El Paso Touihsliip

from C.eorge Bestor, president of the Peoria

^ ()(iua\vl<a Railroad, for the privileije of
naming tlie town for himself. Ciihson and
W'atlien could not agree on a name antl
finall\- drew .straws to decide the issue.
Gibson won and named tlie town El Paso,
after the Spanish term meaning 'the pass".

The first railroad station in the new town
was located west of the Illinois Central
Railroad just south of present Route 24,
and it is beliexed that Ben Hazlett was
the first station agent. After a short time,
Bestor brought in a refugee from Europe,
who was familiarl\- known as "The Count.
and he operated the restaurant. He argued
with e\eryone about the name of the new
C()mmunit\- which he always referred to
as Illinois Junction, refusing to recogni/,e
El Paso, even after the road was extended
eastward to the state line. This extension
was completed on December 31. 1859.

In 1863 the new depot and restaurant
was completed at the railroad crossing, a
block north of the first depot, and the busi-
ness was transferred to the new location.
This almost entirely di'stro\ed The Coimt's
business. In April 1869 he was found dead
on the floor of the restaurant, without a
cent in his pockets or cash register. No one
knew^ of a friend or relative so the counts
paid the cost of his burial on the William
Jenkins family lot in Evergreen cemetery.

Intrigued by the myster\- surrounding
"Count Ludwig C^Iopicki", the late C. C.
Kingdon began piecing together bits of in-
formation from a variety of sources. The
story, in capsule form, is engraved on the
memorial stone which was placed on Clo-
picki's grave by the El Paso Kiwanis Club
in 19.54. The inscription reads: "In menior\'
of Ludwig Clopicki— 1789-1869— Baron
and Major, who, sacrificing all in Poland's
lost struggle for independence in 1830, was
exiled to the United States and became a
pioneer El Paso businessman in 1854."

The first two houses were fjuilt on Front
Street, just east of the Jenkins Bros, general
store. Thomas McClennan began a house
on the corner which was completed by
William C. Bavne. David Hibbs, who had
built a cabin in 1835, l)uilt a house just

west of Bayne's. Both burned in a fire
which destroved George \\'. I'Vidley's ele-
vator on May 1. 1890. Tlu- elevator was
built in 1868 and rebuilt on the same .site
ioilowing the fire. It has been remodeled
and is now operated b\- the VA Paso Milling
Company. Fridley's elevator was the first in
the town. The Jenkins brothers had pur-
chased grain at their general store, but it
alwavs had to be loaded from the farmers'
wagons directly into the frt'ight cars, so the
elevator was a great improvement.

The town's promoters did not move to
El Paso until 1857. Both had been in busi-
ness in Washington, Illinois, but (Jibson
had mov ed to Henry, Illinois shortly before
they joined forces in developing El Paso.
"Major" Wathen (a courtesy title, he did
not have a service record) built his home
in 1858. It has been enlarged and some
interior remodeling done, and is now The
Elms Restaurant, owned and operated In-
Leland Morgan.

The Denman house on Route 51. one-
half mile south of town, was built bv Wil-
liam Denman in 1856. It is now the home
of the Robert t). Mayne family, and is the
oldest farm home in the area in continuous
use since its building.

George (iibson built his fine residence
at the east end of First Street, in an area
which he later annexed to the original
town. He was bom in Pennsvlvania, Oc-
tober 2, 1818, and came to Illinois with his
parents in 1831. He married Miss Matilda
Heath in Ohio June 1, 1843.

In late 1856 Ilandley King built his home
at the corner of First and Pine streets and
his aunt, a Mrs. Cooper, taught the first
school there. There were 20 pupils, includ-
ing Jennie Fishburn, who later became a
teacher in the conimunitv'.

Harrv' H. Hewitt was the first public
school teacher. The school was built in
1857 and soon became so crowded that
Jennie Fishbuni volunteered to assist. Sev-
eral rooms w^ere added as re<|uired. and for
several years small buildings located on
the alley west of the present United
Church of C'hrist were pressed into service
as classrooms. Several "select" schools were

also functioning during this period, with
a more varied curriculum than the public
school, the tuition based on the subjects
studied.

The Presbyterian and Methodist churches
were organized in 1S57, the Baptist in 1858,
and the Congregational Church liuilt on
Second Street north of Jefterson Park in
1859. El Paso's first hotel, the Union House,
was built in late 1S56 by John and Eli Ben-
nett. Dr. Samuel L. Kerr and Dr. Alanson
V. Stockwell both had offices in El Paso be-
fore 1860. All this before the town was
organized.

The building which replaced the Eagle
Block after the fire of 1894 was only two
stories, instead of three, and the City
Council met on the second floor. Omar
North, John H. Welch and William J.
Render were the building committee; Peter
Donner, mayor; H. J. Tegtmeyer, clerk;
and C. M. Parmalee, treasurer, at the time.
Their report showed the cost of the build-
ing was $5,955. .33, which was close to the
$6,000 worth of bonds which had been sold
to finance the project.

A wooden building on the Illinois Central
right-of-way, on the north side of First
Street at Central, was El Paso's first jail.
James F. Keys is the only marshal whose
identity is known, who served before 1875.
The second jail was of brick and was al-
ways called the "calaboose," it provided
quarters for transients for some time after
the city hall was built in 1907. It was sold
to R. L. Beshers for $145, plus pa\ing as-
sessments, and he removed it.

Police officers were elected when the city
was under special charter, W. T. Tucker,
elected in 1875, being the first of which we
ha\e record. Elmer (Wing) Taylor was
appointed in December, 1911, and served
until January 1, 1948 (only a short time
before his death on January 17), the long-
est period ser\'ed by any of our police of-
ficers. The present officers are William
Price, chief; Theodore Fultz, assistant. El
Paso police co\ered their town on foot un-
til December, 1949, when the council pur-
chased an automobile for police use.

Woodford County Ilisfory

Joseph G. Baker and Horace H. Baker
are the only father and son to serve as El
Paso mayors. The latter was the youngest
man ever elected to the office, being just
26. Clyde Tegard is the only mayor born in
El Paso. J. B. Michels served for eight
years as mayor (though not consecutive
terms ) , the longest period of any mayor.

Herman Marten was treasurer in 1929-
19.30 and was elected clerk in 1931, serving
to 1953 ( the longest service in that office ) .
J. W. Everett served as alderman from the
First Ward from 1929 to 1941, when he was
elected mayor. He died while in office on
November 10, 1947. Dwight Roth, alder-
man in the First Ward became acting
mayor in September, 1960, after the resig-
nation of William Maxey and was elected
to the office in 1961. He died of a heart at-
tack February 13, 1965, minutes after com-
pleting welcoming remarks at the dedica-
tion of the new post office, \\'hich was held
at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building.

Five women have served as city treas-
urer: Miss Emma Glessing, 1921-22; Miss
Nell Patterson, 1927-28; Mrs. Rose Med-
daugh, 1931-32; Mrs. Clara Clark, 1933-37;
Mrs. Ruth Arbogast, 1941-49.

County Seat?

El Paso requested the transfer of the
county seat from Metamora to El Paso in
1867, arguing that the two railroads pro-
vided better transportation facilities. Rob-
ert G. Ingersoll represented El Paso before
the board of supervisors, offering the board
$30,000 if the transfer was made. El Paso
lost in the election held June 3, 1867 by a
vote of 1,911 to 1,901. Roanoke and Meta-
mora also sought to be named county seat,
but in 1894 Eureka oftered its city square
as a site for the new courthouse and the
offer was accepted in the foIlo\\'ing elec-
tion. The courthouse was completed in
1897.

A Recorder's Court was estal^lished in
El Paso in March, 1869, when it appeared
there was a possil)ility that the county seat
might be located here. J. J. Cassell was the
first and only judge, with all the powers of

El Paso Toicn\liip

tlic courts at Metainora. It operated two
years hut, inifortiiiiatel}', records were lost
ill a fire.

Post Office

William M. JiTikins was appointed post-
master on March 21, 1857, and opened tlie
office in a section of the Jenkins Bros, gen-
eral store. He was succeeded b\' Hezekiah
liuekle) on .March 19. 1S61. .\irs. .Martha
l{ol>in,son was appointed I'\'bruar\' 2S, LS6.3;
Otha P. l^ichards March 9. 1S65: and Mrs.
liohinson reappointed August 14, 1S66.

In the intervening years. El Paso has had
man\- postmasters and tlie location of the
post offiei' has l)een changed sexeral times.
The first rooms liuilt specifically for post
office (juarters were built by the First Na-
tional Bank on C'entral Street. A new post
office was built in 1964 and Harold R.
Bonar is the present postmaster, appointed
in 1967.

Water

Three public wells wire dug earl\ in the
\illage history. The one on Elm Street was
four feet in diameter with a windlass to
raise the water in a wooden bucket. Ten-
inch bored wells were located in Franklin
Park and Jefferson Park. .\ large trough
was located near each well and cattle and
horses were watered there regularly.

The beginnings ot the first water s\stem
came in 1SS2 when h)ur blocks of wooden
mains were laid, and a 4()-foot tower
topped with a tank was liuilt at the well.
A pmnp and windmill completed the proj-
ect. Bonds were sold to coxer the cost of
$4,406. In 1S94, a new water tower was
constructed and gradually the wooden
mains were replaced with metal and tran-
site ones.

\\'ater meters weri' first installed in 1907.
Another well was dug in .Vugust and Sep-
tember. 1926. The following spring the
pump house was enlarged to include both
wells and a new pump installed.

.\ bond issue for $64,000 was authorized
August 20. 1945 to pro\ ide for construction
of a water softening plant, extend water

mains to iliminate dead ends, install an
engine dri\e unit, etc. A brick building was
constructed to house the e(|uipment.

.V sanitar\- district to pro\ide a s\ stt-m of
surface drainage for all parts of the city
was authorized in 1919 and the cost, some-
thing o\er $60,000 was paid oxer a 20-year
period.

Sewer System

In October 1963, residents along Panther
Oeek northwest of EI Paso protested to
the Illinois Water Board regarding pollu-
tion of Panther Creek and the city was
notified that steps must be taken to correct
the condition. After in\estigation and
numerous delays, the creation of a sewer
system and treatment project was appro\ed
in an election on October 1, 1966.

The project is to be financed through
sale of $.300,000 in general obligation
bonds, a federal grant of $43,000 and
$630,000 from re\enue bonds. The revenue
bonds will be paid for b\' higher water and
sewer bills. Both the general obligation
bonds and thi> rexenue bonds are to he
paid oxer an LS-year period. A pumping
station xxill be located in the southeast part
of toxxn. SexxiMS xxill eniptx' into a large
lagoon a mile northeast of the citx'.

Work of laying the sewers began in De-
cember 1967. but xxas discontinued before
the end of the x car because of bad xxcather.

Streets

Board and cinder walks were used in
Fl Paso prior to 1S99 when a block-long
section of brick was laid adjacent to the
Catholic (.'hurch, folloxxcd the next year
by about thri'c miles of the nexx- t>pe walk.
Manx ot the earlier brick xxalks haxe been
replaced In cement, \xith the citx' proxid-
ing either the labor or the cost of materials,
at the discretion of the property oxvner.
Hitching racks made of hea\\' chains, and
later ones of two-inch pipe, were not re-
mox cd until 1907; some as late as 1922.

Streets xvere sprinkled during the sum-
mer to alla\- the dust, and dragged after a
heax'V rain or thaxx to fill the ruts and

speed drying. In 1911, a street oiling proj-
ect was instituted.

Three blocks on Front Street were paved
with brick in May and June, 1907 at a cost
of $14,546.34. In the summer of 1913 an
additional thirteen blocks of brick pave-
ment was laid, at a cost of $13,286.28. The
largest paving project was done in 1923,
when 56 blocks of cement pavement was
poured. Front Street was widened by eight
feet in 1931, and Central Street was wid-
ened as a WPA project in 1940.

New paving on Main Street (which is
part of Route 24) was done by the state
in 1949.

The V.F.W. Post constructed a parking
lot along the T.P. & W. Railroad in Septem-
ber 1949. Similar parking areas have been
constructed along the sides of the two
parks, and adjacent to St. Mary's Catholic
Church, to provide better parking facilities
for the churches.

In the late 1920's and early 1930"s auxili-
ary streets in El Paso were graveled, with
its share of the 2% gas tax levied by the
state for road purposes. These streets were
later black-topped, so there are few streets
which are not all-weather roads.

Fires

Between 1856 and 1873 El Paso had
grown from a railroad crossing on the
prairie to a town with eight churches, two
flour mills, a barrel factory, a brewery, a
roundhouse, an iron foundry, plow and
wagon factories, two lumber yards, a plan-
ing mill, several li\er\- stables, three buggy
and carriage factories, three elevators, a
newspaper, several hotels, in addition to a
number of stores and four three-story
structures.

During the period between 1868 and
1894, many of these buildings were de-
stroyed by fire, some were rebuilt, and
burned again, but most \'anished from the
scene entirely. George Gibson built a flour
mill on the present Com Belt Park site in
1868; it burned February 11, 1882. Ives
Brothers flour mill was built in 1868 and
burned in 1869. It was rebuilt on a larger

Woodford County History

scale, converted to an ele\ator in 1874, and
burned July 19, 1921.

In 1873 the Bigham & McOmber buggy
and carriage factory and livery stable and
the Seary & Rouse elevator burned. The
elevator was rebuilt and the building
burned February 21, 19.30.

David Craft's planing mill and the Web-
ster Elevator burned September 19, 1875.
Arson was suspected in the fire which de-
stroyed the Illinois Central roundhouse in
the late 1880's.

On October 10, 1888, the buildings fac-
ing Front Street east of the Illinois Central
Railroad were all destroyed. The fire began
in the hotel located at the corner of Front
and Cherry streets. It resulted in an ordi-
nance forbidding construction of business
houses in blocks 41, 42. and 43 unless built
with brick walls and fire resistant roofs.

Seven months later, on May 8, 1889, fire
began in coal sheds owned by the Illinois
Central Railroad, and a high south wind
carried sparks northward. The railroad
agent's house west of the tracks ( which
had been El Paso's first depot), the freight
houses at the railroad crossing, the Summit
House (a hotel), Saltzberger's grocery, the
S. S. Patton barn, and the Christian Geiger
residence, four blocks northeast, all burned.
The Campbell House was badly damaged.

El Paso's first elevator and the two earliest
residences in town burned April 30, 1890
in a fire which began in the elexator. The
west half of block 41 on Front Street was
burned August 15, 1893. El Paso's most
disastrous fire began in the basement of
Tegtmeyer's store and, in three hours,
burned every building ( except a residence)
in block 43. It occurred Juh 19, 1894. Both
water supph- and fire fighting ecjuipment
were inadeciuate, and though neighboring
towns sent help, all they were able to do
was confine the fire to one block.

One of the most dangerous threats to
the community occurred January 21, 1963,
when nine freight cars on a T.P. & W. train
were derailed, o\erturning two bulk tanks
belonging to the Sweeney Oil Company.
0\er 15,000 gallons of gasoline ran into
the streets and were flushed through the

El Paw Township

sewers in the suli-zero eold. Miraculouslx
there were no injuries, tliougli four cla\s
later a Hash fire burned gasohne in a diteli
into whieh it was drained for renunal.
Sexcral homes were e\acuated heeause
fumes were deteeted in the basements, and
the firemen were recalled se\(>ral times
durinu; a two-week period before danger
was past.

Fire Department

The first \olunteer fire department was
authorized by the City Council on October
14. 1875, and the first fire house was Iinilt
in the fall of LSTT.

A new fire station was erected in tlie tall
of 1964. It measures 40.\60 f(>et. with three
large truck doors to the south. The cement
block building has a room for firemen's
meetings, as well as space for the ecjuip-
ment.

Electric Lights

M. A. .\dams and Lee S. Straiglit liuilt
a small electric power plant on West Front
Street, near the water plant, and began
ser\ice on Noxember 21, LSDl, with 67
street lights and over 200 lights in the \ari-
ous stores. The office uas located at 165
Last Front .Street. On April 1, 1912, the
business \\as sold to the McKinIe>- s\stem.
It was not until March 8. 1913 that the
current was a\ailal)le for da\time use, the
current being turned on at 6 p.m. and oif
at midnight before that timi'.

Ornamental street lights were installed
in the l)usiness district in November, 1928,
paid for b\- contril)utions from the busi-
nessmen. Llectric signals were installed
at the intersections of Routes 24 and 51 in
1929, but were replaced b\- four-wa\- stop
signs in 194L The street lighting is to l)e
upgraded under a recently appro\ed con-
tract with llie Illinois Power ('ompain.

.\ brick substation was erected south ol
the T.P. & W. Railroad in 1912, and in 1945
an all-steel outdoor plant was erected.

The Rural Electrification As.sociation
erected a substation three miles south of
El Paso. The first power became a\ ailable
in 1938 through the Corn Belt Llectric

Company. Fe\\' farm homes are without
this ser\ice.

A pipeline for natural gas \\ as laid in the
area in the fall of 1952, from Texas to the
Chicago area. It crossed the northwest
corner of El Paso Township and the .south-
east part of Panola Township. The North-
ern Illinois Cas Compan>- installed gas
mains in El Pa.so in Ma\', 1962.

Banks

John (;. Fergu.son and E. T. Disonay
established the first bank in El Paso in 1864.
.\fter se\eral changes in the partnership,
the firm of Shur. Tompkins & Company
built the Eagle Building in 1871-72 at a
cost of $60,000. The bank was mo\(>d to the
ground floor of the new building; Tomp-
kins later bought out the otlu'r members
of the firm. The bank failed in 1883. and
depositors recei\ed about 71 of their de-
posits in the following settlement.

The National Bank of LI Paso was or-
ganized in June, 1883, after some difficulty
because of Tompkins failure, and the fact
that El Paso's bondsmen had paid deficits
of some count\- officers \\ho had defaulted.
The new bank bi-gan business Jul\- U,
1883. in Tompkins former (|uarters. The
building burned, but the bank resumed
operation as soon as the new building was
completed. Some time later the name was
changed to The First National Bank of
El Paso.

In 1919 the bank expanded its facilities
b\- adding on a room. In December. 1931,
the business was .suspended 'in order to
protect the depositors from possible loss,"
according to a statement b\- the bank of-
ficials. A receiver directed the closing of
the old bank. The LI Paso National Bank
was organized, taking o\er the assets as
well as the liabilities of the old bank. The
new bank opened for business September
1, 1932, and continues in the same location.

The Woodford County National Bank
opened for business on September 2, 1900,
in the Ilcndron Building. The building has
been remodeled several times, including a
new front in 1905.

Both El Paso banks were closed by

Franklin D. Roosevelt's proclamation of
March 6, 1933. The El Paso National Bank
opened March 15, and the Woodford
County National Bank on March 28, sub-
ject to certain restrictions. The restrictions
were removed January 11, 1935.

Schools

The north half of El Paso Township, as
well as the \ illage, was included in the
first public school district, but when the
tliree-story brick building was erected in
the 500 block on East Second Street in
1869, the community was split into "east
side" and "west side" with scars which
have not completely healed a century
later. The brick school replaced the first
public school.

James H. Wathen and David Graft were
ring leaders in the program which di\ided
the district, with the Illinois Central Rail-
road the division line, and El Pasoans
learned what it meant to live "on the wrong
side of the tracks." A new frame school
house was built on West Second Street and
called the Jefferson Park School. A two-
story brick edifice replaced the frame
building in 1897. In 1960-61 a two-story
addition was constructed north of the main
building. It contains six classrooms, a teach-
ers' lounge, and space for storing various
equipment. A $140,000 bond issue for its
construction was appro\ed April 23, 1960.
The two schools offered a two-year high
school course until 1892, \%'hen it was in-
creased to four years. About ten jears later
a combined commencement exercise for
the two high schools was held at the Grand
Opera House. This practice was continued.
Shortly after the death of President M-^-
Kinley in 1901, the east-side school was re-
named in his honor.

The El Paso Tov^aiship High School
District No. 375 was organized in 1916,
combining the two districts and some ad-
ditional rural areas. The first class — 25
students — graduated that spring. Some
classes were held in office buildings down-
town for several years because the two
schools did not ha\e sufficient space. A

Woodford Cottnty History

vote for a bond issue to construct a new
school was finally approved May 29, 1919,
and a portion of the El Paso Fairgrounds
was purchased as a site. The building was
completed in 1921.

In 1948 a community unit district was
formed which retained No. 375. The rural
schools in the district, which was larger
than the former high school district, were
closed and students brought by bus to
El Paso and Secor schools.

A bond issue for $395,000 was approved
June 12, 1954 for construction of a new
grade school. The building was 360x180
feet, L-shaped, and was built across the
driveway west of the high school. The re-
mainder of the fairgrounds was purchased
on March 1, 1954 by the El Paso Com-
munity Unit School District from George
Williamson.

Plans for the new school were begun that
year, and it was given the name of Cen-
tennial School to commemorate the town's
founding. It contained 14 classrooms, a
complete cafeteria, and an agriculture de-
partment. A portion of the building was in
use in the spring of 1956 and it was com-
pleted before the fall term began.

A 100x100 foot steel and concrete gym-
nasium was added to the Centennial School
in 1958, and a playroom adjoining the cafe-
teria was converted into lockers and rest-
rooms. The area above the industrial arts
department was enclosed for a stud\^ hall
in 1966. Both of these projects came from
the regular building appropriations.

On March 19, 1966, a $215,000 bond issue
was approved to pro\ide for additional
rooms at Centennial Scliool and to remodel
the pool area in the high school. A music
and band room was completed by the fall
of 1966 and the rooms were used as quar-
ters for kindergarten classes which were
authorized that spring. The high school re-
modeling was also done that year, but the
Centennial School classrooms were not
completed until 1967. The kindergarten
classes were then transferred to the Jef-
ferson Park School.

El Paso Toiinsliip

Library

The Ladies" Lil)rary Association was or-
ganized in Februar\-. 1873. and sliares were
sold at S3 each to proxide funds for the
new project. From rooms at three different
locations, offered rent fri'e. the t^roup chose
iiuarters in the new liagie Block basement.
Members of the new organization donated
their services as librarians, keeping the
room open from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
each Saturday. By 1894 the group had ac-
quired some 2,000 books, and xoted to

and a gre\' stone building was erected,
and was dedicated in 1906.

A basement room was refinishcd in 1967
and an outside entrance proxided on the
west side of the building. This made pos-
sible a "children's memorial room," with
much of the shehing and furin'ture pro-
vided from funds gi\en as memorials to
loved ones, whose names ari' listed on a
plaiiue. .\ stud>' center was providi'd on the
first door by rearranging c<|uipmcnt in the
foruRT children's section.

The El Paso Public Library was dedicated in 1906, a sift from Andrew Carnegie. A Ladies' Library
Association was organized in 1873 and had a room in the Eagle Block, which burned in 1894. The insur-
ance provided a nucleus to begin again, in the second floor of the post olfice on Central Street. This was
one of the earliest library groups in the comity. The program lias been ta\ suiiported since 1906.

carr\' insurance for one \ear. On JnK 19
the library burned.

The insurance enabled the ladies to be-
gin again, and in 1901 the> mo\ed the 500
volumes they had a(<|nired into a room
above the post office. In 1905 the council
agreed to le\\' a two mills ta,x on all prop-
ert\- of the city to provide for support of
a free public library, Andrew Carnegie
ha\ing donated a building to the commu-
nity if support were assured. A site on the
south side of Jefferson Park was selected

Mrs. S. If. Worthington. Mrs. S. T.
Curtiss, .Mrs. W. G. Johnson, Miss Sarah
Gough, Mrs. Carrie Tucker, Miss Hortense
Ferrell and Miss Katherine Jenkins ga\e
many years of ser\ice as lilirarians. .Mrs.
\\. \. Burster has been librarian since 1944;
Mrs. Llo\cl Pfister, Mrs. Mer\al Byerh' and
.Mrs. Ma.x Lemon are assistants.

Newspapers

Five newspapers began publiialion in
El Paso between Febniarv' 1, 1863 and No-

vember, 1896, but only one had more than
a few months of life. The Gazette, a four-
page paper, was published by Robert
Cauch; The True Patriot, a "states' rights"
advocate, by Charles R. Fiske; The Wood-
ford County Republican by M. T. Hyer;
The El Paso Press (editor not learned);
and the Saturday Review by Curtiss and
Williams have left but a few scattered
references which tell of their existence.
Hyer moved to Eureka in 1896; The True
Patriot was purchased b\' J. W. Wolfe and
consolidated with The El Paso Journal in
November 1865.

John T. Harper founded The El Paso
Journal on April 5, 1865. It changed owner-
ship 12 times before February 11, 1889
when it was purchased by George R.
Curtiss. In 1885 W. D. Meek had pur-
chased the Revietc from Curtiss and Wil-
liams, \\'ho were employed by Meek in the
publication of Tlie El Paso Journal. A. O.
Rupp purchased the Journal in September,
1886. Curtiss, who continued with the
paper, bought it in 1889 and sold an inter-
est to Robert Evans. They continued pub-
lication in the Eagle Block. After the fire
in 1894 they salvaged the equipment they
could and continued publication in the old
creamer\' building on Route 24 until the
new building was completed, in December,
1894, on the former location.

Evans sold his interest to Curtiss on Sep-
tember 15. 1904. In 1912 the business was
moved from the bank building to the first
floor of a building, just completed, on
Central Street. Publication date was
changed from Saturday to Thursday on
June 23, 1910. Mr. Curtiss died May 2,
1946. Chester Curtiss, who had been em-
ployed in the Journal office for many years,
continued its publication after his brother's
death until October 16, 1946, when the
paper was purchased by John F. McGuire
of Chicago. He discontinued pulilication
No\ember 16, 1950.

Walter Bailey began publishing the El
Paso Advertiser on October .31, 1940, print-
ing it in Normal until the spring of 1942
when he opened an office in El Paso. He
purchased the Gridley \dvance in January,

Woodford County History

1956, and merged the two papers under
the name of El Paso Advertiser- Advance.
Following his death in 1961, his wife,
Clara, continued the business. She was as-
sisted by their sons, Donald and Eugene.
She died March 7, 1963. Donald bought his
brother's interest in the business July 22,
1965. He is assisted b>- his wife, Frances.

Webb Hartmen published The El Paso
News for a few months in the fall of 1960.

Telephones

The first telephone in El Paso handled
long distance calls only and was located in
the office of the El Paso Journal. Later
service was available to the bank and three
elexators through the McLean Count}-
Telephone Company. Some of the business
houses were ser\'ed by the Peoria & Eastern
Company in the 1890's, but the service was
discontinued after an argument over rates.
Charles M. Wescott set up a switchboard
in his hardware store and was granted a
franchise in 1896, but discontinued service
after a few years.

Dr. R. E. Gordon rented equipment in
1898 and connected his home and office,
later contacting a group of farmers in
Panola Township who had set up their
own line, but had no switchboard ser\'ice.
A switchboard was set up in the Gordon
home and Mrs. Gordon became the opera-
tor. Businessmen became interested and
new patrons were added.

The El Paso Telephone Company was
organized September 20, 1901, and had 100
subscribers ^\•hen they began business in
December. Dr. Gordon, the first president,
later purchased the shares of the other
stockholders and was president and general
manager until his death on November 16,
1951.

V. C. Gordon has been botii president
and manager of the compan>- since his
father's death. Installation of underground
cables was begun in 1920, and the work
has been extended. The first switchboard
outside the Gordon home \\as located in a
small building on the site of the present
telephone office, built in 1912.

El Paso Tounsliip

Scrni' 1)11 tlif central Ijusiness block on Front Street on June 11, 1913, diirini; ii eoniinunity "plus ilay." A
100 mile automobile road race (around two sections southwest of town) was the principal attraction: it
resulted in the death of one of the drivers. The bank buildini; on the corner was remodeled in 1919, the
corner steps reino\ed and a new street level entrance on the south created. The corner of the buildiiiR
on extreme left is the rear of the Caniiiliill House, a combined di pot-hotel, which was a laiKlmark in
Kl Paso for T.'i \ears.

Entertainment

Stratlinian s tlircc-story liuildin^ liad a
tlicatcr and dance hall on tlic tliird lloor
whicli wa.s the center ol intertainnient
prior to 1S82. Crawfords Ilall was nsed In
cliiireh tiroups and lor club aclixities (hn'-
ing tlic same pi'riod and perhaps even later.

Tlie (Grange nio\cineiit, whicli began in
the East in 1867, pro\ ided the impetus for
an agriculture fair hi-Jd Septcmlicr 18,
1879. It was so successful that a fair as-
sociation was lonned the next \ear. and on
June 30, 1880, the\ purchased a 37-acrc
plot on the northwest corner of town for
$1,537.50. Here the Woodford CounlN l-"air
was held e\cr\- \car ( i-.xcept 1S93 because
of the Chicago World's Fair) until 1927.
Headline entertainment through the >ears
included a balloon ascension, 1889; bicycle

races, 1896; Kemp's \\ild West Show, 1899;
and airplane exhibitions, a parachute drop,
and automobile and motorcycle races on
the half-mile track.

Kemps Wild West Show was an I'.l Paso
product and the name was later changed
to the Kemp Sisters' Wild West Show be-
cause of the popularit)' of Lida and Mida
Kemp, daughters of G. P. Kemp, one ol the
owners of the show.

.After the fair was discontinued in 1927,
buildings were sold to the Henry Fair .As-
sociation and were taken to lleniv, where
they were rebuilt for the Marshall-l'utnam
Fair.

Following the fire of 1893 in which the
rooms used by the Masonic Lodge were
destroyed, the group joined stockholders of
the I'' 1 Paso Opera House (j)iiii)any and

liuilt the present building. The Masonic
groups have the second floor while the
theater on the first floor was used In' vaude-
ville teams and stock companies until 1912,
\\hen it was followed by nioxing pictures
as regular entertainment.

The City Opera House was located on
the second floor of the Hoagland Building.
Many stock companies played there, and
later it was known as Michel's Hall and
was used for piano recitals, dances, etc.

Com husking contests were popular in
the 1920's and 30's. Simon Olton of El Paso
won four of the first six county matches,
the Illinois state contest at Earhille in
19.34, and later participated in national
contests.

A youth recreation center was opened in
1944 and operated several years. A similar
center, known as the Teen Trap, was
opened about two years ago. It is spon-
sored by the Jaycees and its auxiliary, the
Jayshees.

In 1947 the Chamber of Commerce
sponsored the first Com Festival, and for
several years the FFA livestock show for
District 9 was held in conjunction with it.
The three-day celebration combines some
of the features of the old fair, and play
days which have been held at various
times.

One of the features designed to provide
funds for the Festival is the production of
the "Comcapades," a temi coined by Mrs.
R. A. Burster, who writes the scripts and
helps with the production. Curt Mahaffey,
Wayne West and Galen McGuire provide
the musical push for the productions which
are locally costumed and produced. In
keeping with the sesquicentennial, the
1968 production is titled "By Thy Ri\ers
Gently Flowing," and will present historical
episodes which are not found in the text-
books.

A bov\'Ung alley in the 100 block West
Front Street provides facilities for this
popular game.

Parks

Each of the town founders set aside a
square block for a park and they were

Woodford County History

fenced for a number of years to keep cattle
out, the fences were remo\'ed in 1904. A
bandstand was located in Jefterson Park,
and local and \isiting bands gave summer
concerts there until about 1910. Several
community bands, a Boy Scout band and
the high school bands, in recent years,
have pnnided music for countless com-
munity acti\'ities, as well as complete
concerts on other occasions.

Corn Belt Park, on the site of the old
tile factory, the riglit-of-way of the Illinois
Central Railroad between Front and Sixth
streets, and the north side of the T.P. & W.
Railroad are also maintained by the city.
With the addition of the large campus at
the high school. El Paso now has approxi-
mately 50 acres of "breathing space."

Clubs and Societies

"El Paso is clubbed to death" according
to those not enthused with group activity,
yet because of their long life or community
activity a number must be listed.

The Masonic orders have had the long-
est continuous life. The El Paso Lodge
A.F. & A.M. was organized in Panola in
1857, and was transferred to El Paso in
October, 1862; Mackey Chapter was or-
ganized August 31, 1868; Knights Templar,
December 4, 1873; and Order of the East-
ern Star, April 16, 1889.

Mr. and Mrs. Porter Bassett helped or-
ganize the Farmer's Club at their home
March 31, 1890, with the idea of improving
farm practices.

The S. T. Rogers Post No. 531 Grand
Army of the Republic received its charter
September 17, 1885, and disbanded 32
years later. The Women's Relief Corps was
chartered Januar>- 26. 1895 and continued
about 20 years.

The El Paso Commercial Club supported
a number of ci\ic projects from October.
1902 to the 1930"s. It was followed b\' the
El Paso Businessmen's Association, and in
1944 by the El Pa.so Chamber of Com-
merce, aU with the same objective: Co-
operation for community betterment.

The Junior Chamber of Commerce — or
Jaycees — was organized April 18, 1961, and

El Paso TouiusJiip

lias sponsored maii\ programs for coni-
iminit\' iniproxeiiK'iit.

Tilt' El Paso Literal-) Club was organized
in LS98 and later became the El Paso
W'omans Club.

Among fraternal organizations which
ha\e been actixe at \arious times are the
Modern Woodmen of America, discon-
tiniKcl some 20 \ears ago, and the Royal
Neighbors of America, still active.

El Paso Post No. 6926 \'eterans of For-
eign Wars was chartered June 6, 1946, and
its auxiliary January 11, 1948.

El Pa.so Post No. 59 .\nierican Legion
recci\ed its permanent charter August 1,
1920, and the Auxiliary September 1, 1922.

The Kiwanis International recei\ed its
charter Ma\' 5, 1936 and has spon.sored
many community acti\ities.

Bo\- Scouts were acti\e in El Paso in the
earh' 1900"s, were inactixe for some years,
were revived and for some time had a very
acti\e group which included Cubs, Scouts
and Explorers. At present the Scouts are
the onh' active group because of a lack of
adult leadership. The Girl Scouts and
Brownies ha\e been acti\e for some years.

Golf C lub

The El Paso Colt Chib is located on a
60-acre tract east of Kappa, which was pur-
chased in 1931. The club was organized in
1920. and for some time was located on the
Preston Rutledge farm adjoining El Paso
on the northeast. A new club house was
built on the Kappa site in the fall of 1966.

(Churches

Presbyterian Cliurcli. The Rev. F. N.
lowing presided at a meeting on May 11,
ISoT wlu'ii the church was organized. The
first year services were held in the homes
of the members once a month. In 1S58 the
group met in Crawford's Hall, alternating
witii the Baptists tor regular services.

.•\ frame church was built at a cost of
S3.200, and was dedicated in December,
1864. In 1887 the house east of the church
was purchased for a parsonage at a cost of
S9()(), and a new one was built in 1895 for
$2,500, and the first one was sold. The
present inansc was purchased in 1966. The

present church was built in 19!)3, ot brick
and frame construction. Plans tor a federa-
tion of the Presb\terian and C christian
churches were discussed at meetings in
October and Nox'eniber, 1937, and the plan
was appro\cd in March. 1938. Certain dis-
satisfaction developed with the program of
the F'ederated Church and on February 5,
1939, part of the former members of the
Christian Church withdrew from tiie new.
congregation and resumed ser\ ices in their
former building.

Following the uniting of the Congrega-
tional Christian and E\angelieal and Re-
formed denominations in 1957, the local
Federated Church (which had been affili-
ated with the Congregational Christians)
became a part of the new church in 1960.
Methodist Church. A small group of Meth-
odists from El Paso met with other groups
from six other classes in the area, on No-
vember 6 and 7, 1857, to hold a quarterly
conference. There was no church at any
point on the circuit, which included classes
at Clienoa, El Paso, Panola, Willow Tree,
and Bunch Grove schools west of Panola,
Secor, and the Potter School in Palestine
Township.

A lot in El Paso was purchased by the
tioistees and a frame church built in 1865;
dedicated on July 30. The first parsonage
was at 240 East Third Street; the second at
302 East First Street, which was sold in
June, 1890; and the third parsonage, built
in 1890, at 495 East Second Street and sold
in 1944, after the present parsonage at 125
Chestnut Street was purcliased at auction
for $5,075.

The frame church was razed and a brick
structure replaced it at a cost of $10,000.
It was dedicated December 2, 1894, and
burned in the night on May 12. 1895 from
unknown cause. It was immediately re-
built, with solid brick walls, and almost
identical in design, at a cost of $12,000. It
was dedicated October 20, 1895. On May 1,
1959, the residence east of the church was
purchased to pro\ ide additional space for
tile eliurc h, school and pastors stucl\-.

The congregation of the Shiloh Method-
ist ("liurch merged with an El Paso group

in May, 1948. Through the union of the
Methodist Church and the Evangelical
United Brethren Church, which was com-
pleted at a uniting conference in Texas in
April, 1968, the local churches of these
denominations are working out a program
leading to union of the two congregations
in El Paso.

Baptist Chtircli. On January 21, 185S, a
group met at the James H. Crawford home
and organized the First Baptist Church. In
December of that year a number of persons
who had been members of a Baptist group
at Kappa were accepted as members and
the Kappa Church was discontinued. Wor-
ship ser\'ices were held in liomes. later in
Crawford's Hall.

The first church was built and dedicated
in December, 1864. The frame building
cost approximately $6,000, and an addition
in 1884 provided space for the Sunday
School.

In 1911 the church was razed and the
present building, of terracotta brick, with
stone and wood trim, was erected at a cost
of $18,250. It was dedicated April 1.3, 1912.
A new parsonage was built that summer on
die site of the former parsonage.

Congregational Church. Though the Pres-
byterians were the first group to organize
in El Paso, the Congregationalists organ-
ized in 1859 and almost immediately built
a small church — the first church in El Paso.
Howexer, the congregation increased very
little and the building was later occupied
by the E\angelical Chinch.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church. German Evan-
gelical Lutherans met in homes southwest
of El Paso as well as a schoolhouse near
Kappa, under the leadership of Philip
Pfleeger, Sr., in the late 1850"s. Pastors from
Bloomington usually did the preaching.
About 1869-6.3 the group held services in
Strathman's and Crawford's halls. The con-
gregation was organized May 3, 1863 and
given the name St. Paul's.

In 1864 a frame church was built at a
cost of $1,480, and was remodeled in 1875
for an additional $1,300. A parsonage was
purchased in 1871, and a schoolroom was

Woodford County History

added to it in 1882, to accommodate 35
students. It was discontinued after a few
years. The church, which had not been
used for several years, was razed in 1946,
and two residences were built on the lots.

St. Mari/s Roman Catholic Church. St.
Marys parish was organized in El Paso in
1863, and in November, 1864 the Rev.
Francis Keenan came to El Paso to super-
vise the building of a frame church. It was
completed in 1865 and in 1872 wings were
added to increase seating capacity. Minonk
was included in the parish until 1878.

A parochial school was begim in a house
in the 1870"s. In 1898 it was razed to pro-
vide a site for the present brick church
which was dedicated May 22, 1899. The
chiu-ch cost $13,000. A brick parsonage was
built east of the church. In 19.53 a new
vestibule and entrance was built on the
church, and the basement of the rectory
converted into a meeting hall.

Christian Church. "Uncle Jimmy" Robinson
and Elder John Lindsey organized the
church on July 3, 1864, with 40 charter
memliers. They held ser\'ices in Strath-
man's Hall when ministers were available.
Their first church was built in 1865. An ad-
dition in 1877 doubled its capacity. Serv-
ices were discontinued in 1881. The church
was reorganized in 1886 and a new church
was built in 1894, at a cost of $8,0.35.

Between March 9, 1938 and February 5,
19.39, the congregation, in cooperation with
the Presbyterian congregation, functioned
as the Federated Church, and on a later
date part of the group returned to their
former church. The\- ha\e no minister at
this time.

Genniin Evangelical Churcli. The German
Evangelicals held ser\ices in \arious homes
northwest of El Paso in the 1850's, and
built a church in 1864. As the use of the
German language decreased in the com-
munity, the congregation diminished. J. D.
Jenkins purchased the church and parson-
age in April, 1902. For some years the
church was used for the newly developed
game of basketball; howexer it was razed
in 1910 to make wav for a residence.

El Paso Ton ifiliip

Eininunuel Evangelical United Brethren
Church. The congregation was organized
in 1872 from among the English speaking
Evangelicals of the community, and they
purchased the former Congregational
church building the same year. The par-
sonage adjoining the church was built in
1S76, and remodeled in 1901.

The present brick church was erected
on the same site in 1927 at a cost of
$17,200. A plan of union with the local
Methodist (Miurcli is being worked out. in
keeping with the national program.

S^ .Anf/rt'ic'.v Episcopal ('htirch. Though
Episcopal eliurcli services were held at
\arious times in El Paso in the early da\ s.
tlie congregation did not build a church
until 1S96. and was dedicated October 29,
LS96. St. Andrew's has had few resident
priests and services ha\ i' been discontinued
for some months at \arious times. At pres-
ent the majorit\- of the congregation re-
sides in neighboring communities.

C'liurcli of the Nazarene. For a time after
its organization on June .30. 19.3.5, the con-
gregation of the church worshipped in the
former St. Paul's Lutheran Church build-
ing, which liad Iteen \acant tor some time.
In 1940 they built a eliurch and later pur-
cha.sed a residence for a parsonage.

In 1966 a new parsonage was built, the
former parsonage being dismantled and the
area converted into a lawn. The basement
of the parsonage has been con\erted into
a fellowship hall. Much of the construction
on both buildings was done by members
of the congregation.

Gospel Tabernacle. The Cospel Tabernacle
congregation was organized in 1935 and
l)uilt a small church, which was dedicated
in June, 19.36. The congregation was small
and serxices were discontinued about 1950.
Trinity Lutheran Church. The newest El
Paso congregation is Trinitv' Lutheran,
Missouri S\nod, which was organized De-
cember 7, 1947. Worship services were held
in St. .\ndrew"s Church, and Sunda\- School
in rooms in the W o(jdh)rcl County IJank
Building. In 1950 a $.30,000 bond issue pro-
\ ided funds, and men of the congregation.

with some professional help from elec-
tricians and masons, l)uilt a parisli liall. The
project was completed in Septenii)er, 1951.
The sanctuary was built in 1952, adjoin-
ing the parish hall, and was dedicated De-
cember 7, 1952. The church was badly
damaged by fire on January 15, 1960, and
was completely redecorated.

Cemeteries

The El Paso Cemeterv' Association was
organized .\ugust 11, 1859 to solicit funds
for the purchase of a site for a cemett-ry.
Section 4, located east of the \illage, was
a part of the Illinois land grant to the
Illinois Central Railroad, which agreed to
sell the NWy4 of the SE'i for $1,000. Alex-
ander Hawthorn, Dr. Samuel L. Kerr,
Robert McCHellan, Ceorge L. Cibson, and
L. H. McOmber made up the committee
which completed the purchase. Stock w^as
.sold at $10 per share. The purchase agree-
ment was approved and Governor Yates
approved the charter February 14, 1S6L

Dr. Stockwell replaced Mr. Gibson and
with others of the purchasing committee
they were elected directors of the new
cemetery association, with Dr. Kerr as
president; Mr. Hawthorn, \ ice president;
and Mr. Gibson, treasurer.

Early burial records for the cemetery
were lost when the home of the sexton,
James T. Hewitt, burned on Ft>bruary 21,
1S90. A number of persons wi-re transferred
from farm graves, so some stones show
earlier deaths than the cemetery records
would providi', and it cannot be deter-
mined when the first burial occurred.

William Heifing purchased 2.7 acres in
the northwest corner of the cemeterv' on
August 4. 1S7() and the following day he
transferred the property to Bishop Foley
of C^hicago, head of the Roman ("atholic
(Jhurch. Illinois Diocese. It has been the
burial site for Cierman members of St.
Mary's congregation since that time. It is
called St. Joseph's Cemetery.

St. Mary's Cemetery, located one and
one-half miles north of town, is u,sed by
the Irish memliers of St. Marvs. It was

puixliased by Bishop Foley October 10,
1870, from John and Ro.setta DeBolt.

The west 20 acres of the cemetery were
sold to Lewis and Horace McOmber on
June 12, 1868. In 1903 a cement walk was
extended on Second Street from Adams
Street east to the cemetery entrance. A
township highway on the south side of the
cemetery was \acated in 1917 and a quit
claim deed from adjoining landowner
James VV. Cleary secured the area for an
addition to the cemetery.

A. E. Fleming and J. J. DeMotte built a
200-crypt mausoleum of steel reinforced
concrete blocks near the north central part
of the cemetery in 1908. Mr. Fleming
purchased the DeMotte interest and after
Fleming's death, the building came into
possession of the cemetery association.

A six-foot high marble cross was erected
in 1965 by contributions from the public.
The project was sponsored by the two vet-
erans organizations and their auxiliaries,
and it was dedicated on Memorial Day. It
is located near the east boundary of the
cemetery, south of the mausoleum.

An infant daughter of David and Susan
Hibbs, who died in 1849, is believed to be
the first burial in the Hibbs-Bigger ceme-
tery, on the Hibbs land in Section 28. This
was also the first cemetery in the township,
the one at the northeast corner of Kappa
being established several years later.
Undertakers. Most of the early morticians
in El Paso had other businesses as well,
and a number remained in the community
only a few years. William Neifing, who had
a harness shop in the 1860's, and who
buried Count Clopieki, and William Zinkan,
a furniture dealer who died here in 1908,
probably served the longest. Mr. Zinkan's
son, Chris, assisted him for some years. Mr.
Zinkan and his son had three unusual fu-
nerals — that of William Fleming, El Paso's
tallest man (couldn't use the hearse);
George Kraker, a baker and El Paso's fat-
test man; and Da\id Strother, the first
Negro \oter in the U.S. after the 15th
Amendment.

John W. Becker, in the 1890's and early
1900's, and Joshua J. DeMotte, who mo\ed

Woodford County History

here from Eureka in 1896, were others.
DeMotte sold his business to John J. Ficken
in 1919, and sold his furniture business
several years later to Burt L. Brov\'n. Mr.
Ficken had a funeral parlor on East Front
Street before he purchased the home of
Captain W. M. Bullock and remodeled it
for a funeral home.

After Mr. Ficken's death the business
was sold to R. W. Vincent and Albert Otto,
January 2.3, 1943. Mr. \'incent bought the
Otto interest in January, 1950, and then
sold the business to William Froelich, of
Gridley, September 21, 1967. It has lieen
continued as the \'incent Memorial Home.

Professional Men

Doctors. Before 1894 most doctors came to
EI Paso and remained for a few months, a
decade at most. Among the early ones were
Alanson V. Stockwell, Albert Reynolds, Jr.,
Daniel Lewis, L. B. Martin, J. M. Berry,
and John Quincy Adams. Since that time
our community has been fortunate to have
the services of a great many able doctors
and dentists.

Samuel L. Kerr, El Paso's first physician,
came from Kappa in 1857. He was active
in community affairs, ser\'ing as ma\'or in
1886. Another doctor, D. W. Lamme,
served as mayor in 1880.

In 1968 the community's doctors are
E. E. Cryer, Robert P. Lykkeback, Darwin
H. and Isabella Pope, Cletus T. Kearney,
and R. E. Gordon.

Lanyers — Of the law>ers who practiced in
El Paso before 1900, at least 11 remained
for comparatively short periods. Among
them were W. G. Randall (from New
York), Cabin E. Barney, Simon P. Shope,
Benjamin F. Baker, Walter Bullock, Mc-
Culloch & Cloud. All practiced in El Paso
in the 1860's and perhaps a bit later in
some cases.

For a time in the 1870's, fi\e lawyers in
the Robert T. Cassell family practiced law
in El Paso. Robert was a natixe of Ken-
tucky, came to Metamora about 1838 and
was admitted to the bar in 1851. He serxed
in the State Legislature in 1867-68 and
came to El Paso about that time. For a time

El Paso Totruship

\\c had a paitiicrsliip with E. G. liiu;i'is()II
of Pforia, and his two sons. Joseph J. and
Martin H. Casscll. Josopli was tlic onh'
judge of El Paso's Recorder's C'ourt; Martin
was postmaster from January. ISSO until
ISST, when he was elected counts' judge.

A. M. Cavan, bom in Pennsylvania in
May, 1S3S. came to El Paso after the C:i\il
War and studied in the offices of Harper.
('assell. and Ingersoll. He was admitted to
the bar in 1S67. elected for a term in the
legislature in 1870, ser\ed as city attorney
for some time, and was postmaster from
1880 until elected count\- judge in 1890,
and served as judge for eight years.

Other lawyers of prominence were Chris-
tian Schroeder, Isaac B. Hammers, and
John V. Bosworth.

Wicrinariatis. J. W. Parkinson, an El Paso
\eterinariaii in tlie lS90's. was thi- earliest
of wliom we found record. W. D. Carver
began practice about 1895 and continued
to 1949. F. J. Krenz was another who prac-
tici'd here.

Dr. J. A. Owens practiced here from 1925
until his death in 1946. Ezra Kelsey bought
Dr. Owens' e((uipment in September, 1946.
(;. E. Scott was associated with him in
1952-53. Richard White joined Dr. Kelsey
in June. 1955. and on January 1. 1967 Dr.
White opened his own office.

Dentists. El Paso has liad c'Oinparativcix
lew dentists, P. A. Ferbraelie. a nati\c' of
Ohio. L. C. Roberts and son. who were
here in 1S65, and Mark H. Patton who
came in IS72 being the earliest of wliom
we it-arned. James M. Fishburn was an-
other. Gordon D. Heiple is our present
dentist.

The names ol three brothers, nati\'es of
Lancaster, \'a.. appear freejuently in the
early histor\ of El Paso. Isaac Merideth
Jenkins, Sr. ( Januarx 20. ISOo — December
15, 1897; Robert Smith Jenkins (June 23,
1812-1830); and William Merideth Jenkins
(March 2.3. 1814— about 1890) .settled first
at Kickapoo where the\' operated a grist
and saw mill. They came to El Paso in tlie
spring of 1856 and built the first store, and
mo\ed to the town in 1857. Isaac and Caro-

line Bilking Jenkins lost tiucc sons in one
week in ISfiO. during an epidemic. Isaac,
Jr. and Katherine weri' born later. The
family farmed just east of El P;iso.

Industry

()nl\ one ot tlie businesses which were
in operation a ci'ntiuy ago is still in opera-
tion. A lumber \ard, which was started in
1858 by George L. and Cyrus Clibsou, was
purchased in 1868 b\- .\, S. MeKinney, of
Elmwood, and James Ilotehkiss, of Peoria.
MeKinney bought out his partner; then in
1890 bought the stock from the Lee S. and
Gu\' Straight \ard on the east wye and
mo\eil the entire operation west to the
area between the west wye and the two
railroads.

Jolui .\lcKinne\ joined his father in the
business and continued it alter his father's
death in 1921. The Kent Lumber & Coal
Company purchased the business on Janu-
ary 15. 1944, and Mr. MeKinne\' retired.
The lumber sheds were rebuilt in 1952 and
1953, and a new office building was erected
in 1966.

The Mitciieli, Harper 6; (^ompan\ plow
and wagon factory also manufactured sev-
eral kinds of eultixators. The factor)' was
conxerted into a lixery stable about 1885.
The building was razed in 1903.

The Muller and McWilliams wagon and
farm implement shop, I. Lemon and sons
blacksmith shop and wagon factory, and
the Gibson flour mill were all located in
the block where the present Corn Belt
Park is located. The mill burned in 1S82,
and the other businesses were finally re-
moved, the site proxiding the clay for the
El Paso Tile and Brick Works, which was
begun in 1883 by Lee S. Straight and
Elias I'urman. William Glimpse and son,
Clint. mo\fd from Kappa in 1890 and, for
some time, operated another brick factory.

John Henning's wagon factory and Dan-
ner Bros, wagon factor)' were located on
opposite sides of \^'est Second Street in
the 1860'sand 1870's. Both were dismantled
after 20 years or so.

.•\ number of men. including Welte,
Sachs, Tegard, Mitchell. Patton. and Col-

burn, niaintained li\en- or feed barns at
\arious times. The Pierce Furniture Store
Building was built for a stable, but was
changed to a garage when its builders,
Peter Donner and D. P. Risser, decided
"Dobbin" was on the wa\- out. and auto-
mobiles would soon replace him. The Pat-
ton bam was converted to a broom factory
in 1920, and then to a garage b> tlie Bo\d
Motor Company in 1926. Herschcl Bo>d
built a new garage in 1948 and the old
building was dismantled. This is now the
Rebbec Motor Companv' garage.

A. H. Wolk and Fred Crane built the
first greenhouses, they later added the
Wolk building to the east side of their
plant. R. E. Gordon purchased the Plumb
interest and the company specialized in
raising carnations for a number of years.
The business changed hands a number of
times and the building was razed in 1959.
The Frank Hartzell greenhouse began in
1957.

A building erected in 1892 was occupied
by a butter factory, later it housed the
Marvin Manufacturing Company, then a
garage, a factory for grain dimip carriers
and trucks, a firm manufacturing lawii
sw ings, one making tractor culti\'ators, and
finalh' a junk \'ard before it was dismantled
in 1933.

The F. S. Larson lumber yard was lo-
cated south of the T.P. & \V. and east of
Sycamore Street in 1902. It was purchased
by John Pleasants in 1924 and converted
into an ice house. It and an adjacent feed
mill were dismantled to make room for a
new shop and display room which was oc-
cupied for several years by Heller's Farm
Store. A ser\ice station was built, on the
mill site, which was operated for some time
by J. M. Letsinger. It is presently William
Bowman's body shop.

Elevators. In the summer of 1898, Asa and
John Shepard built an elevator. It was pur-
chased for $7,250 in 1903 by a group of
farmers who had organized the El Paso
Elevator Compan\-. They later bought the
elevator at Enright Station. They also built
elevators in Kappa and Panola. The name
has been retained, but the business is now

Woodford County History

owned by a corporation, with Homer Sturm
as manager.

The White Elexator was built by a group
of farmers in 1921 and .sold to C. C. King-
don in 1935. It was purchased by the El
Paso Ele\ator Company in 1953. Metal
storage bins were added east of the ele-
vator in 1958, and in 1959 additional stor-
age was pro\ided b\' a metal building on
the east wye. These elexators are in addi-
tion to those mentioned earlier which were
destnned by fire.

J. J. Dauth has operated a blacksmith
shop since 1927. Early blacksmiths usually
worked in connection with a wagon or
buggy factor)'. James Ross is believed to
be the earliest in El Paso, having a shop in
1857.

The Aylward Liquid Fertilizer Company
opened a plant in 1959, and since then has
increased its facilities. The Schertz Agri-
culture Ser\'ice also began in 1959, and was
sold to the Gulf Oil Company in February,
1968.

California Chemicals, Orthe Division,
manufactured insecticides at their plant. It
began in February, 1965. and in 1967 the
plant was enlarged and began >ear-round
operation.

The Behlem Manufacturing Company
opened a branch office and distribution
center south of El Paso on August 2, 1962.
Thev produce steel buildings for farm and
industry. El Paso Pellets Unlimited, Inc.
began operation of a feed mill and mixing
plant, across the road south of Behlem's,
September 1, 1962. It had a daily capacity
of 100 tons of mixed feeds in pelleted fomi,
and production has since been increased.

D. C. Diers was distributor for the Dri-
Gas Corporation for a number of years be-
fore a bulk plant was located on west
Route 24 in July, 1950. It was later pur-
chased by the Thermo-Gas Corporation,
which distributed bottled gas for home,
farm, and industrial use.

The Kammerer Cement Products Com-
pauN'. founded by Mathias Kammerer in
1917, w^as first located at Walnut and Front
streets. The plant was moved in 1920 to the
area northeast of the Route 24 and 51 in-

El Paso Tonitsliip

tersection. It was badly damaged by fire
November 11, 1937. The compan\- was
mo\ed to East Peoria because transporta-
tion was better.

In the late I940's C;. W. Dalr\ nipl(> of
Bloomington opened a feed lot and shipped
in cattle from tlic West to be fed out on
Illinois farms. In 195S another change in
marketing methods was reflected in the
building of a livestock sale barn. Art Feller
of Cissna Park and Earl Martin of El Paso
were the auctioneers. Sales are held each
week, the stock being transported by large
trucks to cit\- packing plants. Much of the
stock lias been raised on area farms, while
some has been shipped in tor fattening.
After several years Mr. Martin mo\ed to
Morton, and Mr. Feller continued the busi-
ness.

In 192S Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hildrcth
began operation of the Prairie .State Hatch-
ery, the\' later added a la\ ing iiouse. Mrs.
Ilildretli continued the business following
her husband's dcatli. until 19.51. Ra\- Whit-
wood comerted a barn into a laying house.
The business was later enl.uged b\' John
Baillie, and his flocks produce eggs b\- the
truckload.

James \\'hiskers built a large la\ing
house and shipped eggs to Xew York tor
a number of \'ears. Dale Fever raises broil-
ers, being able to care for 10.000. Few
farmers now raise chickens, e\en for their
own use. production being confintd almost
entirely to commercial flocks.
Food Prcscrvcition. .An artificial pond was
created !)>■ 1. Lemon and his sons in the
southi'ast part of town in the ISTO's or SO's.
and filled it with water from the city well.
It was surrounded by a high board fence
and ice was cut there e\ery winter. Mr.
Lemon purchased the first building used
b\ the Christian Church, and moved it to
the pond about 189.5. \ well 265 feet deep
was drilled to provide water, after several
years of drought. The pond was condemned
by health authorities in 1910. Later the
increased use of artificial ice wrote finish
to the business. The first icehouse burned,
was replaced in 1927. and that building
also burned.

During the years ice was produced on
the pond, it was also a recreation center,
with professional skaters from as far away
as Chicago competing in contests. Brass
bands provided music for these contests,
which were nsualh- held at night.

R. L. Beshers" canning factorv' was first
located on tlie northeast corner of town,
then moved in 1925 north of the T.W (x W.
Railroatl east of Adams Street where he
continued until 19.39. B(>sliers builtacream-
erv- and cold storage plant on Route 24 east
of Elm Street in 1922, and rented space for
refrigeration of foods, particularly m(\its.
This was the first such service in the com-
munitv. Frank Clearv lati'r rented the
building for a processing plant for his dairv'.
It is now the office building for Pfister
Hybrid C'orn Company.

F. L. Tarman added a storage unit to
his butcher shop, which was later enlarged
bv J. W. .McHugh. The latter processed
meat tor manv' farmers who previously did
their own butchering.

The Prairie State Canning Companv built
their plant in 1912. with E. A. Selk as man-
ager. Corn was first grown under contract,
later bv' companv employees on rented
land. This company was discontinued, then
operated for three years in the 19.3()'s bv-
the Inderieden Companv- of Chicago. The
plant was remodeled in 1940 by Pfister
Hvbrid Corn Company, which purchased
it for a warehouse.

Hotels (111(1 Motels. VA Paso's earlv hotels,
with one exception, were destroyed bv- fire.
George H. Campbell built the Campbell
House in 1S62 on land he leased from the
Illinois Central Railroad. The building
combined a railroad depot and hotel. Mr.
Campbell dii-d in 1S96. and his son. Harry,
continued the lousiness until 1914. Later a
number of companies and individuals
leased it, in whole or in part, but the rapid
decline of passenger traffic on the railroads
made it unprofitable. The building was
vacant for several years and was ra/ed in
19.3S.

The C:iifton Hotel, built bv W. 11. Fergu-
son, burned in 1894; was rebuilt; closed its

Woodford County Histonj

dining room in 193S, and has been vacant
since 1946.

Mrs. Zilpha Morgan purchased the
James Wathen house and, in 1939, opened
it as a tourist home. She added a number
of cabins later and opened a dining room
in 1953. The business is continued by
Leland Morgan, who added a large dining
room in 1965. "The Elms" caters to clubs
and organizations as well as to individuals.

The Com Belt Motel, opened in 1952 by
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Stine; the El Paso
Motel, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Everett
Treece; and Roger Benson's Stage Stop
Motel, built in 1957, provide additional
tourist accommodations. Mr. and Mrs. Earl
Burroughs discontinued a similar business
in 1967, after 25 years of operation.

A commercial trailer court, run b\' Omer
Arbogast, Kilpatrick's Trailer Court, and
the Treece Coiut provide another type of
service. The Gala Restaurant, Pierre's, and
the restaurant at the City Ser\ice station
are convenient tourist stops.

In 1952 the first "drive-in" eatery was
built by Dale Patterson, and on July 4, 1967
another drive-in opened.

Saloons have been part of the business
community, except for a brief period in the
1890's and again during prohibition. In
1968 there are two ta\'erns, package liquor
shops, and a club license in operation.

Service Stations. Four oil companies have
storage tanks in El Paso: The Standard Oil
Company put up their first tanks in 1894;
the Shell and Sweeney companies erected
tanks in 1924; and the Mobil Oil Com-
pany now owns the tanks which were
erected in 1929.

C. L. W. Snyder built the first dri\'e-in
service station in 1925. About the same
time Clarence Massey installed a gas pump
on the lawn at his home. He later built a
service station on the corner. Three other
stations are also at the intersection, the last
located in 1929, though se\'eral have had
more than one building on the site. There
are two other service stations on Route 24,
and two more on Route 51.

Clarence Massey erected the first build-

ing actually planned as a garage, later re-
placing it with a service station. Louis
Knecht's garage was built in 1929, and has
been enlarged several times.

John Schlink operated a laimdry for a
number of years in the early 1900's. About
1906 a Chinese laundry was located at the
corner of Front and Chestnut streets, on
the ground floor of the building where
Smith's Photograph Gallery was located.

On December 26, 19.58 Franklin Jones
opened a new type of laundr\- — a laundro-
mat. Mrs. Reta Nohren was manager of
a second laundromat which opened in
March, 1965.

About 1960 the Martin-Marietta Corpor-
ation opened a distribution center for
Madison silos.

The Heller Farm Store has been on
Route 24 since 1953, in quarters which
were first occupied by Pfister Associated
Growers. The building was enlarged and
a complete line of fann equipment is a\ail-
able. McKinley & Hielscher discontinued
their machinen,' agency November 1, 1967.

The Dunmire Equipment Company, also
on Route 24, handles earth moving equip-
ment and tractors.

Nursing Homes. Mrs. Myrtle Tegard
opened a nursing home in 1947 and later
sold it. Mrs. Morris now operates a home
for elderly citizens at the original location
of the nursing home, as well as two smaller
residences on Route 24.

Mrs. Eva Lewis-Hughes has a nursing
home and Mrs. Clarence McDaniel oper-
ates the McDaniel Nursing Home. Another
home which operated in the 1950's was dis-
continued, and another mo\ed to Gridley.

El Paso in the Wars

Few El Pasoans had an\- part in the
Mexican War. Veterans of that \\ar who
are buried here are listed on the American
Legion's grave registration.

Of the many men from the area who
served in the Civil War, six were killed in
action, and 27 died of wounds or disease.
Some were buried on the battlefield, none
was returned home. This list includes onlv

El Paso TouHship

those \\ lio uxTc listrcl iron) tlic Kl Faso
community at the time they entered serv-
ice, though some who came to the com-
munit\' after the war had also served. Lack
of space forbids listing them, witii these
few exceptions:

Capt. \\ ingfield M. Hvilliek. coiiniiander
of (Company E.. lOSth lUinois Regiment,
went from Eureka, but mo\ed to a farm
north of El Paso following the war. lie was
wounded in the leg in the attack on Span-
ish Vovi guarding Mobile Bay. and had a
pronounced limp until he dietl.

Harr\- Dewitt Cook, originalK from New
York, organized Company C of the 4th
Illinois Ca\alry in August. LS61. The com-
pany was made up entireh ot local men.
He ri'signed as a Republican member of
the State Legislature to do so. .After ad-
\ancing to major he retunu'd home and
was again elected to the Legislature. Re-
habilitation work for \eterans took him to
New York and Washington, D.CL later.

Lt. Sanniel T. Rogers was second in
command of Compan\- \ of the SGth Illi-
nois Infantr\. The EI Paso Post No. .531
Crand Ann\' of the Republic was named
for him. Of the 14 El Paso men in this
compan\-. four weri' killed in action in
1S64. Two others were captured and died
in a Confederate prison. Only four mem-
bers were li\ing when the El Paso C.'^.R.
Post was disl)andcd.

IIenr\- P. Ore of Kappa lost his life in
the Indian campaign in the West, which
followed the (,i\il War. David Hannah, a
nati\e of Ni'W Jerse\-, also ser\ed in the
West, and came to El Paso later where he
engaged in farnnng. Three men from El
Paso and another, who came later, served
in the Spanish-.\nierican War.

Chester Blumenshine, John Lincoln
North, Fred S. Skinner, and Nelson Kamp
of El Paso lost their lives in \\'orld War I.

Women served in the armed forces for
the first time during World \\ar II. and 22
from the El Paso area ser\cd in \arious
branches of scr\ice during that time.
Twent\ -se\eii men ot tile area lost their
lives in World War II.

-\Ian\ men ot the communit\ .served in
the Korean Conflict. Among the first to be
called were IS members of an El Paso re-
serve unit. Batterx- .\, S.31st Field .\rtillery.
Several others, who w^ere members of the
1 44th Battalion of the 44th Di\ision"s Anti-
.\ireraft .\rtiller\. were also called. Donald
Miller ot Kappa, who was wounded C^hrist-
mas Da\. 19.51. and died after being re-
turned to the U.S. for hospitali/ation, was
the only death from this conflict.

Since the Korean episode a number have
served in \arious branches of the armed
ser\'ices, .some with the Army of Occupa-
tion in luirope. .\t the close of 1967 others
are ser\ ing in \'ietnam.

Dr. R. E. Gordon

On Januan,' 1, 1895 Dr. H, E. Cordon
opened his office. He had been located in
Benson slightK' more than a \ear prior to
coming here. The oldest son of Dr. Jerry
Taylor and Mary .Annas Cordon, he was
born in Carh le, IlHnois, September 5, IS73.

Dr. (Gordon moved his office to 54 North
Central Street after a few \ears and he
maintained it there the rest of his life. He
married Delia C. Chappelle of Rolla, Mis-
souri, July 8, 1894. They had four children:
Virgil C, Noel E. (now deceased), Robert
Stanley, and Mrs. X'irginia Cordon Wiese.

Dr. (Gordon ser\ed as alderman from
1910 to 1920. and as ma\or in 1926 and
1927.

ProfessionalK he was one who early
recognized the need for special care for
tuberculosis patients and. on Ma\- 7, 1908,
opened the first facilitx in Woodford
County for such care. The "Han-Con-Tan
Tuberculosis Sanitarium" was onl\- in oper-
ation for two \'ears. but it helped focus
attention on a major health problem.

Dr. Ciordon was a member of the Wood-
ford and McLean Count\- medical societies
and ser\ed on the staffs of Bloomington
hospitals. He was also a member of the
50- Year Club of the American Medical As-
sociation. During his 57 years of practice
he delivered approximately 4,500 babies.

Woodford County History

Dr. Gordon died at his home November 16,
1951.

Levi F. Smith

Le\'i F. Smith opened a photograph gal-
lery in El Paso in 1(S69, and for nearly 60
years he recorded the iiistory of El Paso
through his cameras. Thougli he was only
14 years old he liad been employed pre-
viously in the shoe trade, in the Journal
ofBce as a printer's devil, and later b\ L. K.
Thayer, an early photographer in El Paso.

He was Ijorn October 7, liS55 in Ilolden,
Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin and
Sarah Smith. When he \\as just past 21 lie
married Emma Laura Arnold. She was the
daughter of Isaac M. and Sarah V. Arnold,
who lived northwest of El Paso. Mrs.
Arnold was a talented artist and painted
the pictiue of Andrew Carnegie \\'hieh
hangs in the public library.

Mrs. Smith became an excellent photog-
rapher, and worked with her husband
regularly. Mr. Smith died on March 18,
1929. The Smith's had two sons: Roy A.,
who died in his \'outh, and Max, who was
associated with the First National Bank of
El Paso, and its successor, the El Paso Na-
tional Bank. Mr. Smith is also a talented
musician and has played \'iola with the
Bloomington Symphony Orchestra for
many years, as well as being a violin
soloist on many programs.

First Negro Voter After the 15th
Amendment

El Paso operated under a special charter
from 1867 to 1890, and under its provisions
held the city election on Monday, April 4,
1870, one day earlier than almost all other
elections were held. David Strother, a
Negro barber, arrived at the polls to cast
his ballot. He was accompanied by James
H. Wathen, then mayor, and Jacob Fish-
bum, who cited Article XV of the United
States Constitution, which had been de-
clared in effect five days earlier. It was
declared that "the right of citizens to vote
shall not be denied on account of race,
color, or previous condition or servitude."

Communication was not the almost in-

stantaneous medium of the present day,
and the judges were not informed, so they
denied Dave's request. William Neifing,
one of the judges, sent for a copy of the
amendment. When he learned that the re-
(luest was legitimate, Da\e was sent for
and returned to vote. His brother, Charles
Strother, voted later in the day, and as far
as El Pasoans have been able to learn,
Da\e Strother's choice for officers in El
Paso was the first ballot cast b\' a Negro.

David A. Strother was born in Lexington,
Missouri, August 18, 184.3, the son of par-
ents win) were sla\es. He was a cook on a
Mississippi Ri\er steamer before becoming
a ci\ilian cook with Company G, 17th Illi-
nois Infantry. Many El Pasoans had serxed
in that unit and the\' urged Da\'e to come
to El Paso. Jonathan Parks was one of these
men, and he gave Dave space in a corner
of his insurance and Justice of the Peace
office, to set up his barber chair.

After the building of the Eagle Block,
he mo\ed his shop to the basement of the
new building. There he was joined by his
brother, Charles. Charles died of tubercu-
losis in April, 1897. and Da\e"s wife, Eliza-
beth Gaines Strother, died July 12, 1901
from the same cause. Da\e had \ery little
formal eduCLition, but he read widely and
was very well informed. He died of a heart
attack March 12, 1905.

In 1954 El Paso Post No. 59 American
Legion, aided by a $100 donation from the
Women's Society of Christian Service of
the Methodist Church, placed a marker on
his grave in Evergreen Cemetery, "Believ-
ing that his vote the morning of April 4,
1870 marked a milestone on the road to
human freedom."

Judge Horace H. Baker

Horace H. Baker was ina>or from 1911
to 1917. Horace was also the youngest man
to hold the office, ha\ing reached his 26th
birthday just four da>'s before he was
elected.

He was born April 14, 1884 at Buckley,
Illinois, and was the son of Joseph G. and
Julia Lincoln Baker.

He was Woodford County state's at-

El Paso Toniisliip

toriRA Iroiii 1932 to 1936, and was tlir first
circuit JMclgc to be clccti'd Iroiii tlic count)'
in tile l]lc\i'nth Judicial Ciircuit. lie ser\cd
in tlic olficc from 1936 to 1939. He was also
a nicinlxr of tlic Illinois State and the
Wootilord (."ounty bar associations.

On No\cnibcr 25. 1909. lie married
f'.lenna Honar. Tlieir son. Frederick Bonar
Baker, joined liis latlier in the law firm of
Baker and Baker in 1939. Mr. Baker died
unexpectedly on March 2. 1947. following
a heart attack at his home.
Other h'diiious Sons. Judged only on the
basis 1)1 public recognition of success in
their particular fields, two El Paso natives,
whose work took them to other areas,
should be UK'ntioned.

Bisiiop Fidton J. Sheen was born in a
second floor apartment in 111 I'aso. above
his father's store. He is the son of Newton
and Delia Fulton Sheen and was christened
I'eter John, but .sometime after he entered
the priesthood he dropped his first name,
and, to honor his mother, adopted her
maiden name. He was ordained in 1919,
and continued his studies in Washington.
D.(;. and Europe, returning in 1926 to be-
come professor of philosophy at the Catho-
lic rnivcrsity of America.

The long series of sermons he preachi'd
on the C'atholic Hoin- oxer the National
Broadcasting Companx network brought
him to national prominence among people
of all faiths. He is a prolific writer, as well
as gifted speaker, his books covering a
wide range of interests.

F'rank H. Slunnan. son of (ieorge and
Lucretia Slunnan, graduate of Fl Paso
schools and the I'niversitx of Illinois in
1921, carried his agriculture know-liow half
wa\' around the world. He was a farm ad-
viser in Jersey and Whiteside counties for
25 years. In 1952 government officials asked
him to go to the Tcclmical Institute in
.\llahabad, India, to work under a Von\
Foundation grant for the training of the
people in improved food production meth-
ods.

The Shiunans spent tour years in India
and two and one-half years in Afghanistan.
Thev returned to the I'nited States and he

announced his retirement. He wont back to
India, however, in 1964. to help in a co-
operative project between si.x U.S. land
grant colleges and tlu' Indian government.
He has also helped train Peace Corps per-
sonnel at centers in Davis. Colorado, Car-
bondale, Illinois, and in Hawaii.

Other El Pasoans who hav o achieved
success in various fields would include lU.
Bev. Msgr. Thomas Cleary. 1S85-196I,
pastor, teaclu'r and historian; Robert Bar-
racks, IS9'S, newspaper editor in St. Lom's,
Mo., press officer in the Navy, and later at
the Office of Information. Washington,
D.C.; Walter Bocke Evans, IS92, profes-
sional vvi'cstler, and world middleweight
champion in the I92()'s, later a golf cham-
pion; Don Cash Seaton, lormer Illinois
state director ol physical educiition, and
later phvsical education and track coach at
the I'niversitv' of Kentuckv'; Dr. John S.
Dyscr, a historian, who became president
of Northwestern State (College of Lom'si-
ana; Mark Evans, talented organist, teacher
and arranger; Brig. Gen. Clay M. Donner,
career soldier, serving in World War I and
II; and Cletus Lcc Schw itters, known to
movie goers as "Bryon Keith" (not to bo
confusi'd with Bnan Keith), and is now
involved with the technical side of the
movie business.

Not So Pleasant Events in El Paso History

P. C. Hanson, who was niavor of l']l Paso
in LS77-78, shot and killed Walter Bullock,
an El Paso attornev-, on May 2, LS.SS. The
shooting occurred as the result of a (inar-
rel vv hich began in a political disagreement.
Since local feeling ran high against Kan-
son, he took a change of venue and was
tried in Lacon. In January, 1SS2, he was
actiuitted on a plea of self-defense.

Two groups of boys got into an alterca-
tion on Route 24, near the intersection with
Boutc 51, on Jaiuiarv- 28, 1947, and Edward
Perry Bennett, a popular member of tlu;
El Paso football team, was stabbed, and
died before aid arrived. Dewev' Cook, 17,
of I'arina, llliiutis, pleaded guilty to man-
slaughter and was sentenced to 14 years in
the penitentiarN'. Edward aiul F"rederick

Hollingsworth. wlio were witli (>'()ok, were
similarly charged, but were acquitted.

John Seggennan died No\eniber 3, 1949,
at his home in El Paso, from a shotgun
wound inflicted by his wife following a
quarrel. Slie was acquitted of a charge of
murder on her plea of self-defense.

Farming and Livestock Raising

The breeding of fine draft horses was an
early sideline for many farmers in the area,
the horses providing practically all the
power available for any farm operation, as
well as transportation. Ed Hodgson of El
Paso was perhaps the best known breeder
in the township, purchasing Clydesdale and
Englishshire breeding stock from Europe,
for his large stables.

Shorthom, Jersey, Angus, Galloway,
Guernsey, and Holstcin cattle, perhaps
others, from farms in the area, \'ied with
each other for the blue ribbons at the
Woodford County Fair. Gushing Jones was
one of the early breeders of Shorthorn cat-
tle. More recently the choicest animals
from the Angus herd of the late Charles
Rundles and son, Warren, have also won
prizes at state fairs and others shows. In
1966 Eugene Kline was a member of an
Illinois trade mission sponsored by the
Farm Bureau, which visited the Mediter-
ranean area, and he presented one of his
Polled Hereford bull calves to a govern-
ment agriculture college in Madrid, Spain.
Later he shipped a similar animal to
Portugal.

Tons of pork ha\e been produced on
farms in the area, but the lardy animal
which used to win prizes has given place
to a trim line carcass, in keeping with the
desires of the housewife. Poland China,
Chester White, Yorkshire, Berkshire, Du-
roc, and Hampshire, and more recently
Landrace and hybrids, have all been pro-
duced here. John, Gene and Dennis Cleary
are one of three-generation families which
have been consistent livestock producers
and feeders.

The price of land in the area has climbed
steadily upward over the years, though
there have been setbacks at \arious times.

Woodford Countij llistonj

Land in Section 16 in El Paso Township
was purchased for $S per acre in 1854, and
in 1860 the price was $22.50 per acre.
After the Civil War many farmers had dif-
ficulty in completing payments on land
they had purchased from the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad, and in order to keep the land
under cultivation ( which in turn would
provide freight for the railroad), a barter
agreement was proposed. The railroad took
corn in payment of the debt, allowing 20
cents per bushel. A number of farms were
saved by this program.

By 1S82 the price of land was up to $50
per acre, and the same land was valued
from $90 to $120 in 1896. A report on land
sales in the summer of 1919 included a
farm in Section 19, El Paso Township, for
$405 per acre; one in Section 34, Panola
Township, purchased one day for $275 per
acre and sold for $315 per acre the next
day! Another farm in Section 23, Greene
Township, which was bisected by a creek
sold for $300 per acre. By 1948, $500 per
acre was not unusual, and in 1967 the price
per acre has climbed to $650 to $800.

Kappa

Kappa is located in El Paso Townsliip,
straight south of the town of El Paso. The
name Kappa was bestowed on the settle-
ment by the Illinois Central Railroad. It
was the tenth stop on its route from what
is now East Dubuque to Bloomington so
the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet was
used. There were a couple attempts to
change the name in the 50's, however.
Kappa prevailed.

Thomas Dixon had built a house on the
present site of Kappa in 1833. ,\mong
others, the Hibbs brothers had also built
homes in the vicinity several years before
the coming of the railroad.

A restaurant was operated at the depot
as early as 1854 for the convenience of the
railroad passengers, as the trains had no
dining cars at that time. Horace Meech
was the proprietor, but after the Campbell
House at El Paso was completed in 186.3,
the railroad used those facilities. Conse-
((uently Kappa's restaurant was left with

El Paso Township

few customers and Mcfch soon nioscd to
Chicago.

After Caleb Horn mo\cd to Kappa in
18.54. Mrs. Ann Dewey taught a private
school in the home for several years. Ma-
tilda Hassom was the first public school
teacher, teaching in a log house built in
1S56. This building was moved two miles
west of the \illage in LS64, and a larger
one built on the site.

Frederick Niergarth succeeded Jones as
postmaster, followed b\- Ceorge Ldlman,
J. B. Drake, then his daughter, Florence
Drake; after her death in 1922, her brother
Eugene Drake continued in the office until
he retired No\eniber .30. 19.57. The office
was moved to the Leenhouts building, and
Sally Nelson and Lee Reed served for short
periods; the office closed October 31, 19.5S,
and residents of the area recei\ed their
mail from a rural route out of El Paso.

James C:. Jaynes li\ed near Kappa in
1S.52 and liccame the first grain dealer in
the \iilage in 18.53. However the first de-
bitor was built in 1883 by George Lallman
and J. 1^. Drake, though the partners had
lieen in the grain business .several years by
that time.

Dr. .Mbert Reynolds, who first settled in
Bowling Green, built an office in Kappa in
18.54 and became the first doctor here.
W. H. Willis opened tlie first hotel about
the same time. Botli nun later mo\ed to
El Paso.

A shoe factor)- was located in Kappa
from about 1S.55 to 1861. Christian Schafer,
who had emigrated from Ciermany in 1851,
married Phoebe Boeshar in Peoria, and
they settled in the new \illage in October
18.54. For a tinu' the laetor\- emplo\ed 16
men. Schafer also moxcd to El Pa.so where
he was a merciiant for man\- \ears.

In the late LS4()'s Jacob Smoots had a
sawmill on the Mackinaw Ri\er a short
distance southeast of Kappa. Hiram Haxens
of Hudson purchased it in 1S.5() and con-
verted it to a grist mill, which burned in
1.S.52 and was rebuilt the following \ear.
on the opposite side of the ri\er. The dam
for the mill created a small lake, and after
the propert\ changed liands se\eral times.

Dr. K. D. Witt and his sons con\erted the
area into a communit> recreation center.
Pastime Park became the center for Sunda\
School picnics, political rallys, G.A.R. en-
campments, and celebrations of all sorts.
For a time a small steamboat made short
trips on tlie river. Special trains brouglit
groups from as far as LaSalle and Blooni-
ington, and for some time a regular iiack
service operated between El Paso and the
park. Brass bands, parades, fireworks and
oratory were a regular part of summer ac-
tivity until 1894, when high water de-
stroyed the dam. The mill was dismantled
in Noxember, 1894, and b> 1905 onl>- oc-
casional fishing parties visited the scene.

A Baptist congregation was organized in
Kappa in the lS50's, several years before
the January 21, 1858 organization of a simi-
lar group in El Paso. In December. 1858.
some of the members of the Kappa group
were received as members in El Paso, "the
Kappa church having disbanded" accord-
ing to church records.

Ten persons organized a Methodist Epis-
copal class in 1855 and held meetings in
the depot for some time. Members of the
Evangelical Church in the area also wor-
shipped with the Methodists and the two
groups combined forces to build a church
— "the building to be used by itinerant
ministers of both conferences on alternate
Sundays. "

A new huikling and furnisiiings whicli
cost $2,400 was dedicated in 1874, though
it was ten years before payment was com-
pleted. The church never has a resident
minister, being served by pastors located in
Gridlev'. El Paso or Hudson. The Ev angeli-
cals withdrew in 1922 and the Methodists
continued services, (though irregularly)
until the church burned JuK 4, 1941.
Sparks from a firecracker probably set ofl^
bv some celebrating youngster were be-
lieved to have caused the fire.

J. B. Drake purchased a general store
from Fielder & Wheaton in 1907, and was
succeeded in 1914 bv- his son Eugene, who
maintained the store until 1965. This was
the last store in Kappa.

The original depot was purchased by

Roy Dunsetli in 1934; moved several blocks
north, and remodelled for a ta\ern and
restaurant. A gasoline sto\e exploded there
on July 24, 1936, causing the death of Mrs.
William J. Corbley and Leslie (Bud)
Brown. The building was burned, howexer.
was rebuilt and continues in operation.
There are also two other taverns, and an
elevator owned by the El Paso Elevator
Company.

State Route 8, more familiarly known as
the Corn Belt Route, was constructed in
the El Paso area in 1923-24, and was later
designated U.S. Route 24. In 1951 the road
between Gridle\' and El Paso was com-
pletely rebuilt. The Meridian Highway,
formerly Route 2, now U.S. Route 51, was
built in 1924. It was widened and black-
topped in 1951.

E. A. Childs, super\isor for El Paso
Township, proposed the first bridge over
the Mackinaw Rixer, south of Kappa, in
1907. Prior to that time the river crossing
was at the old mill ford to the West. There
was a legal dispute o\er the responsibility
for financing the bridge between the two
counties, Woodford and McLean, but that
dispute was e\entually settled.

The contract was let in December 1909
for $8,090, and was completed in June,

Woodford County Ilistoiy

1910. However grading of the approaches
so it would be used, was not completed
until late winter. A second bridge was built
in 1923 as a part of the hard road project,
and cost 843,000. In 1960 U.S. Route 51 was
relocated, b\-passing Kappa by curxing di-
agonalh from one mile west of the \'illage
to a point south of the Mackinaw River.
Fill for the new bridge o\ er the ri\ er made
the road much higher than the old one.
The bridge and new road cost o\er
$1,000,000.

A histor\- of the fir.st 100 years of the El Paso
coiniiiunity was written in 19.54 as a part of the
centennial observance. The late C. C. Kingdon,
who had an avid interest in history, was prime
nio\er in the project. He was assisted by Mrs.
Horace H. (Glenna Bonar) Baker; Mrs. Ralph
A. (Mildred Garber) Burster; Glenn Yerk Wil-
liamson; and Mrs. Charles G. (Ethel Moore) Eft.

Much of my research for the period 1854 to
1946 sent me to files of the El Paso Journal found
in the El Paso Public Library. It was owned and
edited by George R. Curtiss from 1889 to his
death in 1946. Since that date, most of my in-
formation comes from my own files of community
happenings, as I haxe observed them as a re-
porter for The Daily PimUifiraph and The Peoria
Joiinud Star.

Editors note: It is regretted that the \ery com-
plete history submitted for this \olume had to be
condensed because of space limitations. We trust
readers will turn to the El Paso Centennial Publi-
cation for more complete details.

Greene Town si up

MUS. I\ AN KlNDU.

Situated east of the center of Woodford
C"()uiit\ . Greene Township is hounded on
tile north by Cla\ton. on the east hy Pa-
nola, on the soutli 1)\ Palestine, and on the
west !)>■ Roanoke. It is known as Congres-
sional Town 27 X.. Range 1 E. of the Third
I'rincipal Meridian. It is si.x miles square,
and eoiitains about 23.000 aeres of \er\' fine
land. Till' soil is deep and xery rich and
well adapted to the raising of com. Greene
Township was organized .\pril 3. 1855
when the population reached about 200.

Pantlier Creek runs through Greene
Township, one branch flowing from the
east and the other from the west, forming
a junction near the southwest comer, and
leaving the township at a i)oint near the
N'illage of Secor.

The .settlement of Panther Gro\e was
commenced as early as 1828 when a few
cabins were scattered through the timber
along the banks of Panther Creek. Amasa
Stout and his wife. Susannah, were the first
settlers in this township and were among
the earliest pioneers of Woodford Count)',
preceded by a few settlers at Spring Bay,
Walnut Gro\'e and Metamora. The Stouts
came in 1828 and li\'ed their first two
winters in a rail pen. protected on three
sides and top with corn fixlder. This pen
was located near the west line of the north-
west (juarter of Section 19 which is also the
west line of Greene Township. They lived
on their farm for about eight years, then
patented it under date ot June 13. 1836,
and immediately sold it to B. J. Radford,
Sr.. the father of the author of Woodford
County's first histor\'. The Stouts then
moved south.

The next settlers in Greene towTiship
w(Te the \lcCord fainiK and relatix'es. Wil-

liam McCord of 0\erton, Tennessee, came
in 1831. along with fixe other families, after
53 days of journex ing. He built a log house
20 feet square, made of small round logs,
chinked xxith smaller pieces of xxood and
daubed xxith mortar. There were txvo doors
and txxo xxindoxxs. The McCords at that
time owned tlu> land, that is noxx- oxxned
bx- William Wilson and Mrs. Doris Man-
gold.

William. .Mien. Winsloxx and .\lmira
Patrick, cousins of the McC^ords. mox ed
from Overton County, Tennessee in 1829
and settled on Section 29. They built a
house, using die same plans prexiously
used by Stout, and lix cd in it until the
boys had cleared ten acres of ground.

Young Bilbrey, brotlier-in-laxx- of the
Patricks, came, xvith this xx ife. from Over-
ton Countx-, Tennessee, in 1830 and settled
on the east fork of the c r(>ek. To them xvas
bom the first xxliite cliild in this part of the
countx, ill 1831. The son xvas named Eli
Patrick Bilbrex'; he became the father of
David Young and Ira Bilbrey of El Paso,
making them the oldest familx- to con-
tinously lixe in our area.

From 1840, to the completion of the Illi-
nois Central Railroad, the county xvas set-
tled vers- slowly, but after diat exent, the
township began to fill more rapidly, and in
1855 there xvere no less than 200 inhabi-
tants. Schools began to spring up, roads
and bridges were built, and a better class
of buildings were taking the place of the
old log cabins. In the year 1870, the popu-
lation of Greene ToxxTiship xvas 933. The
last census, in 1960, shoxved a total of 510.

In 1840. a cabin was built on Section 28
for the purfxise of establishing a school.
This school xxas knoxvn as the Cram School

and the first term it was taught by William
Armstrong. A meeting of the sehool trus-
tees was held in 1854 and plans were made
for the formation of a new district; in 1856
a second school was established on the
north side of the timber on Section 20,
which was known as the Willow Tree
School. Later, other schools were estab-
lished until there were se\'en schools in the
township. Of course, tliey have now all
been absorbed into the surrounding school
units; but the old Willow Tree School
Iniilding is still stancUng and is believed
to be the oldest building in the township.

Willow Tree ScIkkiI, ^llll ^l.llnUll>i. >ikle!.t Iniikling
in the towniship.

Not until a comparatively late date was
much attention paid to the building of
roads; but after the Township Organization
Act went into effect and each township was
dependent on itself for its highways, the
inliabitants of Greene went to work ear-
nesth', and each year has seen improve-
ments. In 1878 there were nearly 100 miles
of graded road. In 1968, there are nearly
50 miles of township roads and about 13
miles of county roads in Greene Township,
most of whicli is blacktop, and the rest
gra\el. State Route 116 runs about one and
one-half miles across the northwest corner
of the township.

As for communication, Greene Township
is nearly all serviced by the modern dial
phone system.

In the fall of 18.34, John Armstrong and
his wife came from Mercer County, Ken-

Woodford County History

tucky, to the Panther Creek Groxe and set-
led on Section .34, where his great grandson
Wayne Armstrong now resides. Stephen
Armstrong, one of the ten children of Joha
and Elizabeth Garrett Armstrong, settled
on Sections 27 and .34; his grandson Curtis
Armstrong resides today on Section 27.
There are a number of descendants of John
Armstrong still li\'ing in Greene township,
the oldest family to continuously reside
there. The Armstrong family has owned
some of this land since the day it was
patented, 134 years ago.

John and Sabrina Baringer came from
Germany in 1830 and their son Jacob was
born at sea on the trip. They settled first in
Pennsylvania, then Ohio, and in 1S46
moved to land west of Gabetown where
John worked in the Gabetown sawmill for
two or three winters. The)' patented the
WV2 of the SE^A of Section 30 on June 23,

1853 and lived on the south line of that 80
acres. They buried a 21-year-old son in the
Carroll Cemetery at Gabetown; he died
May 1, 1859. Their other son lived on a
rented farm in Greene Township in 1S46,
then purchased the NW'A of Section 31 in

1854 from the Illinois Central. A sister,
Lydia Martha, married Joel D. Powell,
parents of Lewis, Ira and Elizabeth Powell.

Jonathan \\'ilson came with his father,

The house owned by JoiuUhaii Wilson where
Abraham Lincoln was often an overnight guest.
The fini.sh lumber for this house was brought from
Chicago and the stone was hauled from Joliet. It
has since been torn down, and a new home was
built on the site by Robert Martin.

Greene Taiinsliip

Nathanial Wilson, to Mi'tamoia in 1835,
and nioxt'cl to Greene Townsliip in 1850.
He earned the siin-eyor.s eliain.s, wliile
helping to complete the .section .siir\eys in
the Woodford Connty towii.ship.s. He pur-
chased the EV2 of the NWV4 of Section 20
in Greene Township on February 6, 1850.
and other land soon after. It is very inter-
esting to note that a frequent oxernight
guest of the Wilsons was .\l)raluuu Lincoln.
who tra\eled the old road between Gabe-
town and Metamora when he was practic-
ing law there. This road passed near the
Jonathan Wilson farm, uliicli later w;.s
owned by Charles Kiiidig.

Gabriel S. Woods li\ed in the (labctown
area in the early 1850's. He was the first
township clerk of Greene when it was
formed in 1S55. He enlisted in the- lOSth
Illinois Infantry in the (,'i\il War and be-
came a second lieutenant.

John and Mary Miller were marri(>d in
Virginia in 1854 and set out for Illinois on
their hone\moon. arriving in Kappa on the
Illinois Cx'utral Railroad. They settled in
Greene Towii.ship. buying the NWV4 of
Section 22 on the Metamora Road. The
farm remained in Miller hands for almost
70 years.

John and C-ecelia Jones came from \'ir-
ginia in 1854 by boat, settling in Greene in
1857, where their old home was in the
center of tlu" NW'i of .Section 24. The\- had
acciminlati'd eight hundred acres of land
by 1872. Twelve children were burn to
them.

John and Kli/.abcth E\e\' came into
Greene I'ownship in 18.54 ironi I'cnnsyl-
\ania and worked in the new tow ti ot
Seeor in the building trade, finally buying
land and settling as a farmer on the south-
west corner of the NE'-i ot Section 29, his
residence being about the middle of that
section and three-fourths of a mile west
of Gabi'town. Michael E\ey came to the
townshi]) in 1852; there were 12 families
in the E\ cy party winch lollowed Micliai'l
into CIreene township.

William, Sr. and Catherine Meginnes
came from Pennsylvania to the Roanoke

area in 1853. The\' iuom'cI to Greene Tow n-
ship in 1855. Nine children were born to
tlii'm, William Jr., being the father of
Charles, who in turn was the father of the
William Meginnes who now li\es in Secor.
That farm is now owned by Reuben Ken-
nell.

.\lthough Greene Township has no city
within its boundaries, it has sent forth an
unusualK largi' number of men prominent
in political life. Among these are A. H. Bru-
baker and Isaac B. Hammers, members of
the legislature; T. W. and L. C. Gish,
sheriffs^; L. C. Gish, treasurer; G. W. Pat-
ton, circuit judge; Thomas Ilu.xtable, county
clerk; L. H. and F. A. X'anAlstine, circuit
clerks. C. W. Stephenson served as treas-
urer and secretary of the Roanoke Fire
Insurance Company. These men were not
all residents of Greene townshii) at the
time of their election, but had at one time
resided there.

.A.n historic place to \ isit in (ireene
township is the old Carroll Cemcti'r\' on
Section 28 about eight miles southeast of
Roanoke. In the 1850"s, James Carroll took
ui) a small homestead there and later oi)er-
ated a mill. Later a Gabe Woods started a
small store at the roadside. Travelers on
liorseback, buckboard. or eo\ered wagon re-
feiTcd to the roadside store stop as Gabe-
town. Then came a Jacob Lahr from Peoria,
who, in turn, erected a smithy shop. The
small roadside hamlet was (piitc a busy
center for the early pioneers to gather, until
the coming of the railroads; then a place to
buy grain and ship by rail was founded at
Secor. This and other railroad points soon
took from Ciabetown's patronage and popu-
larit\-. From then on Gabetown gradualK
went into decline.

H()we\-er, in the passing days, years and
decades, as death came to their midst.
lo\ed ones were laid to rest in the Carroll
Ck^meterv', which is still ihiic todav . al-
though man\- of the markers have fallen
down. One of the notable distinctions about
the place, is that there are soldiers from
three wars whose remains rest there. Ed-

ward Fitzpatiick of tlie Re\ olutionary War,
who died in 1834; Jolm Armstrong of the
Mexican War, who died in 1857, and Wil-
liam Betz of the Civil War. Also one Civil
War soldier's wife.

It is estimated there are about 100
burials there; the stone markers denoting
names such as McCord, Van Alstine, Ra>-,
Stine, Mixter, Magarity, Dye, Har\'ey, Pat-
ton, Armstrong, Arnold, Betz, Bolin, Bru-
baker, Baringer, Carroll, Fitzpatrick, Ham-

Woodforil County History

mcrs, Marshall, Risser, Stevenson, Wesley
and others.

Greene town.ship, ha\ ing no cit\', re-
mains agricultural, though the farms are
fewer and much larger. This, along with
smaller families, accounts for the lesser
population. The onl\- big business in the
township would be the Martin Implement
Company, dealers in farm machinery. Tliey
are also farmers and ha\'e a large cattle
feeding business.

Kansas Tow nsliip

Charlene Proctor

Kansas township is just a little more than
half ot a Congressional township, and its
southern boundary zigzags into a similar
section of McLean County. In fact, Kansas
and White Oak Township, of McLean
County, make a complete town hetwiTii
them, and are so closeh' connected, both
socialK' and geographicalK'. that to trace
the histor\- of one. witliout mixing in that
of otlu'r other, is a somewhat difficult task.
Kansas Township lies in the southeast part
of Woodford County, and is bounded south
and east by McLean County, north 1)\
Palestine Township and west by Mont-
gomery Tov\Tiship. Tile Mackinaw Hi\er
and Denman Creek How through the nortli-
eni part of the townsliip. Much of the land
is timber and bluffs; howexer there are
some fine farms in the townsliip. Kansas is
known as Tow nsliip 25 north, bange 1 east
of the Third Principal Meridian, There has
never been a town in the townshi]).

The First Settlement

White Oak Crove was the first settle-
ment in Kansas township. Settled in 1S2S,
it was located near what became the
boundary line between Woodford and Mc-
Lean c-ountics. Roljert and Samuel Phillips
were the first comers to that region, but
they were soon followed b\' others who
built homes and began farming, .\mong the
early settlers of Kansas Township were
Smith Denman, Isaac .-Mien. Zachar\
l^rown. Reuben and .Abraham Carlock.
Samuel Kirkpatrick. .Adam Moore, anti
Thomas and Elisha Moore. Denman came
from Ohio and settled in the southeast part
of the township, in the timber of Denman
Creek, whic-h is named for him.

The Dicksons. Samuel Kirkpatrick and
.Adam Moore were also from Ohio. Thomas
and Elisha Dickson came to Illinois in the
fall of LS29, and settled in the White Oak
Grove area. Samuel Kirkpatrick settled a
short time after the Dicksons. Zachary
Brown came to the count)- in the early
tliirtii's. and was later followed by his
brother James. \\'hen Mr. I5rown came to
the \itinity. there was no house between
his cabin and Bloomington.

.Abraham Lincoln travelled through Kan-
sas township on his circuit from Springfield
to the old Metamora Courthouse. lie used
the Wyatt's Ford Crossing o\'er the Mack-
inaw in the northeast fjuarter of the town-
ship. In 1922. the counties of Woodford
and McLean erected a marker on the
county lini' which reads "Abraham Lincoln
traxclled this wa\' as he rode the Eighth
Judicial Circuit; 1S47-1S59."

The Old Democrat

Prominent among the names of early
settlers in this region is that of .Abraham
Carlock. The Carlocks, Abraham and his
brother Reuben, came to this area in 1833
from Tennessee. His father and two broth-
ers were soldiers under General Jackson
at the Battle of New Orleans. Mr. Carlock
was fond of sa\ing that his first vote for a
presidential candidate was for General
Jackson. He liked to call himself •The Old
Democrat."

.Abraham Carlock owned approximately
1(K)() acres in McLean and Woodford
C^ounties. His home la\' just inside the
Woodford Countv' line.

IIarr\ Carlock, great-grand nephew of
Abraham Carlock, says tluit when travelers

Woodford Coiiitfy Ilisfon/

sought shelter for tlii' night, the Old Demo-
crat would ask their political leanings. If
tliey were Democrats, lie would offer them
shelter; if they \\'ere Republicans, he w ould
gi\e them directions to the Bensen home
just down the road where they would he
welcome.

In approximately 1850, Carlock donated
about an acre of land in southern Kansas
Township to the Christian Church for use
as a cemeter\-. His old political ri\al, Phillip
Bensen, a Republican, donated another
parcel of land in 1862, also for use as a
cemetery. The Carlock Cemetery is situ-
ated on the west side of the countr\ road
by which Abraham Lincoln traveled from
Springfield to Metamora; and the Bensen
Cemetery is a quarter of a mile farther
south on the other side of the road, near
the county line .':eparating ^^'oodford and
McLean counties. Although no real distinc-
tion was made politically between the two
cemeteries, for about 30 years the Demo-
crats were buried in the Carlock Cemetery
and Republicans in the Bensen Cemetery.
Even today, the Carlock cemetery is often
called "The Democrat Cemetery," while
tlie other is called "The Republican Ceme-
tery. Abraham Carlock was buried in 1884

■"^■im

Abraham Carlock is buriiil in the Carlock Ceme-
tery for which he Jonated the land. His tomb.stone
read.s "Ahraham Carlock; 1800-1884. 'Here Sleeps
the Old Democrat.' "

in his own cemetery with the words,
"Here Sleeps the Old Democrat" inscribed
on his tombstone.

Churches and Schools

It was not until about 1850 that a school
house was built in Kansas Tou'uship. Until
this time, children from the area had at-
tended a school taught by Rev. Abner
Peeler, just across the line in McLean
County. The first school was built in the
eastern part of the township near the farm
of Zachary Browai. At one time there were
three schools in the township. There are no
longer an\ schools in operation, howexer,
and children from the western part of the
town.ship go to school in Congerville in the
Unit 140 School District. The eastern part
of tlic township belongs to the El Paso
school s\stem.

Tlie pioneer preaclier of ths \icinity was
Re\-. John Dunham w lio preached in both
Kansas and Montgomery townships. There
was no clmrch at all in tlie townsliip until
1916 when the East Wliite Oak Union
Church was built. Residents were obliged
to go to Montgomery Township or into
McLean County for religious services.

"In 1905 a Sunda\- School was started at
the old Spring Hill School House. The
Sunday School was organized with Oscar
Franklin as superintendent. The Re\'.
Troyer served as pastor imtil a church was
built. Services were not held during Janu-
ary, February, and March because of the
mud roads. In 1915, a committee of four
women — Mrs. May Metzger, Mrs. Kate
Weirman, Mrs. Emma Brown, and Mrs.
Emma McClintock — canxassed the com-
munity to see if money could he raised
to build a church. On August 5, 1915,
the following building committee was ap-
pointed — Henry Green, Guy Brown, Eli
Mishler, Ed Weirman, Fred Hohl, and Will
McClure. Many of the communit>' cut the
oak logs from their own timber and do-
nated material and labor to erect the build-
ing. George Farrell was operating the saw
mill and Ed Brown did the sawing. In the
fall of 1916 the church was completed. On
April 18, 1917 the building was dedicated.

Kansas Tounship

The speakers were Rew Huff, Carlock;
Re\-. Pliillips. El Paso; and Rev. Tro\er,
Carloek. Since the erection of tlie churcli
inan\- elianges have taken place and few
families are still ii\ inij here wiio were ae-
ti\e in the organization at that time, and
the church no longer serves the township.
The name of the church has aK\a\s been
the Fast White Oak Union Church." '

There has ne\ er lieen a store or post
office in Kansas Township and residents
were served by communities outside the
township. The earliest business enterprise
was a blacksmith shoji. conducted by a
man named Craig.

Kansas was originalK a part of Palestine
Township until 1S59, when the people of
the area petitioned the Board of Super-
visors to be made a separate township. \t
the time of the formation of the township
the Kansas uprisings prior to the Ci\ il War
wxre in the new's and the name Kansas
was chosen.

The Mackinac Mineral Springs Hotel

The Mackinac Mineral Springs Hotel at-
tracted mail) weekend vacationers in the
early 19()()'s. The site was opened along a

branch road to Wyatt's Ford by A. D. Loar
and his wife, Bella. The retreat was two
and one half miles north of (Jarloek in
Woodford Countv'. The Loars dammed up
the streams surrounding the hotel and cre-
ated a pond where minerals and sulphur
attracted giiists to the 1.39-aere retreat to
bathe in the health-giving waters. Water
was piped u]-) to the hotel and several bath
houses. Tlic hotel was destroyed by fire in
1910. Mr. l.oar eventnallv- sold the land to
Frank Larson in 1934. Mrs, Larson is still
living in the home which was most prob-
ably one of the original bathhouses.

Conserv-ation Projects

The new Six-Mile Lake along Six-Mile
Creek in McLean County will affect the
eastern part of the township. .Approxi-
mately 6.50 acres will be used for the lake
and surrounding recreational areas. This
acreage will affect the farms of William
Uphoff, Sam Waller, Edward Hos]-)elliorn,
Edwin LIphoff, and Vernon Littell.

Another lake now under discussion will

' From the Ea.st White Oak Iriiciii Church
Constitution. 1946. Supplied In Mr. ami .Mrs.
Cecil McChire.

I'opuhir vveekcixl resort, the Mackinac Miiur.il .Sprini;s lliilc! in 1908. (Picture taken by
Harvey Crump, Carlock, Illinois. )

affect Kansas Township to a greater degree
if it should be built. At present, a proposed
dam on the Mackinaw River is still under
study. The official starting point of the
Mackinaw Ri\er Basin project was in 1939,
when a federal Hood control act was passed
which included the Mackinaw Dam. Those
projects of less pressing need, including the
Mackinaw Dam, were postponed. In 1964.
Representative Leslie Arends. at the re-
quest of the city of Bloomington, asked
Congress to call for a restudy of the
project. Congress gave the go-ahead for
the study of Mackinaw Dells Dam in Jmie,
1964. In June, 1965, Congress appropriated
$252,000 for the in\estigation of the Mack-
inaw River Basin and other Illinois proj-
ects. The proposed dam has met with some
resistance and the building of the Six Mile
Lake has postponed the problem of the
Lake temporarily, but the final decision
has not been made.

Natural Beauty

Because of the hilly, wooded terrain
around the Mackinaw River, Denman
Creek, and Vincent's Run, much of the
township is difficult to reach. Because of
this, much of the original natural beauty
of the region has been presened. Wildlife
along the ri\'er abounds. Se\'eral deer were
taken last year in Kansas township. The
Mackinaw also attracts fishermen who fish
the fast-mo\ ing river for bass, catfish, bull-
head, carp, gar, and various species of pan-
fish. Camping is popular in the \icinity of
Wyatt's Ford.

The natural settings also attract people
to country living. Nine families have
formed an association on 70 acres at the
head of Vincent's Run. Five permanent

Woodford County History

homes and four weekend cabins surround
a ten-acre lake.

The People of the Township

The present population of Kansas town-
.ship is 229. The population in 1870 was 309
and the figure climbed until 1920 when it
reached 337. From 1920 to the present the
population has declined, chiefly due to the
increased size of farms. The township is
dependent upon agriculture for its hve-
lihood and the area has some excellent
farmland and outstanding farmers. Corn
is the main crop and so> beans and oats are
occasionally produced. In addition, a few
farmers raise cattle and sheep.

From 1926 until 1964, John Rocke owned
an outstanding dairy on the western edge
of the township. His Brown Swiss dairy
cattle produced sexeral records. One milk
cow produced 20,079 pounds of milk in
305 days, setting a world's record. In a
1945 sale, two cows brought $3,000 apiece.
Harvey Hartter, who raises Black Angus
cattle in the eastern part of the township,
produced the grand champion steer at the
International Livestock Exposition in Chi-
cago in 1966. In 1967, he became the first
breeder in the country to show both grand
champion Angus bull and grand champion
Angus female at the American Royal Live-
stock Show in Kansas Cit\-, Missouri. He is
also known in the area as a showman and
judge. He has been chief judge of sexeral
major steer shows in recent years, including
the Illinois State Fair.

Among the excellent farmers in the area
is Richard Romersberger who farms 210
acres on the western edge of Kansas Town-
ship. Mr. Romersberger serxes as executive
secretary of the Woodford County Farm
Bureau.

History of Liiiii I Owiisliij)

Rai rii Laible

W'ooDKOiii) County lias 17 townships. Linn
Township, located to the north, was once
a part of Clayton Township. By a legal
\ote on Septenilier 27, LS5(S, under the
Township Organization Act, it became
Linn Township, named after William and
Simon Linn. Its legal description is Town-
ship 2S North Range 1 West of the Tfiird
Principal Meridian, with Marshall Count)'
to the north, Cla\ton Township to the east,
lU)anoke Township to tiie south and Caze-
novia Township to the west, being six miles
scjuare and having .36 sections.

The first actual settler within Linn Town-
ship was Harrison Hollenback who mo\ed
to Section .3 in 1840. lie came here, with
liis tamiix, from Ohio and built the first
house on the prairie south ot the timber.
The house. 24.\18 feet, was built with hewn
logs and was one and a half stories high.

The soil of this area is not excelled by
an\' other farming land in the county. It is
rich, deep and black with a \ellow cla\'
subsoil, (lorn is the principal crop. The
main streams of water are Crow Creek to
tlie north and east. Snag Creek draining
the middle, and Snake Creek in the south-
ern part. In early days cattle ran at large
and had to be branded so that farmers
could identify their livestock. Hogs were
fattened in small pens made of rails or
posts and boards.

Under the Public School Law, Section
16 was sold and the mone\' was used to
build nine school houses, each serving four
sections. In addition to the public schools,
the Lutheran Church, which was erected
in 1862 in the .southeast part of the town-
ship in Section 36, maintained a private
school. It was open lor ten months of the

year. The attendance was 25 and the in-
struction was given in German.

When the unit school districts were
established in the 1950's, the nine school
houses were sold at a public auction. The
Lincoln School in Section 32 was pur-
chased by private citizens, and is now
operating without tax monies.

Some of the carh' settlers were R. S.
Buniham, Moses Bixb\-, Jacob Tjaden, Lion
Held, William Jury, Thomas Jur>-, Doctor
Ben F. Feazel (veterinarian), F. J. Harbus,
J. J. Faw, John Black, Edward Damerell,
Peter Kennel, N. W. Peobody, Brint Rob-
bins, James White, George Wraggie, S. R.
Davison, and Eilert Harms.

On April 5, 1859 the first township elec-
tion was held. Elected were H. S. Simpson,
supervisor; B. Wilson, clerk; A. Simp.son,
assessor, R. Burnham, tax collector; A.
Martin and J. Pinkerton, police magistrates;
\. Thorn, overseer of the poor; and J.
Johnson, pound master. There were 13
candidate's for road commissioner; S. Wil-
son, William Jurv', and Simon Linn were
elected.

This township didn't have a large area
of timber land to be cleared. Farmers set
out millions of osageorange plants (hedge)
to maintain the boundaries of their land,
and to protect their crops from roaming
livestock. I'ublic roads had to be built and
low-lands had to be drained for crop land
and to help control mosijuitoes. Thousands
of drain tile were laid, the ditches dug by
hand. .Men known as tilers, spent their en-
tire lives at that kind of hard labor.

Good drinking water was very important
because of typhoid fever. Men dug wells,
bv hand, to great depths to avoid coutami-

Woodford County llistonj

Gathering at Linn I'own Hall in 1890.

nated surface water. Many men lost their
lives in this very dangerous occupation.
The creeks and small ditches had to be
cleaned and straightened. This work had
to be done with horses and men handling
flip scrapers. In some of the boggy and
mire spots oxen had to be used because
they had smaller hooves and could walk
where horses could not. A bullet shaped
piece of iron, weighing a ton was pulled
through the prairie swamp to help create
open ditches. It wasn't until about 1935
that these creeks and ditches were dredged
by machinery.

The early settlers purchased this rich
farm land for a few dollars per acre. Land
prices held at a reasonable level until the
First World War when prices clinil:)ed to a
new high of $500 to $600 per acre. Prices
then went into a gradual decline and in the
depression years ( 1930"s ) land was sold or
taken o\er b\' mortgage holders at $100 to
$200 per acre. At this writing land prices
are ranging from $700 to $1,000 per acre.
Unimproved land is selling at the highest
prices due to the tax evaluation on real
estate with improvements, such as houses,
barns and other liuildings. Corn and soy-
beans are known as cash crop, making up
90% of the farm income.

In the early 1900's a well known person-
age of the area was '"Doc" Benjamin Frank-
lin Feazel, the local veterinarian. After his

death his practice was taken o\er by
Maroin Faw, D.V.M.

The prairie grasses and meadows and
pastures have disappeared from the land-
scape. The hea\'y cropping of the soil, wind
and sheet erosion are taking the toll of the
rich top soil which took years for nature
to create.

Farm to market roads have been built
so that every farmer in Linn Township has
either a gravel or a black top road open
for traffic the year around. School Ijusses
and large trucks are carried on these roads.

Linn town board members are: Francis
Kull, super\isor; Barbara Theirier, clerk;
Henry Arends, road commissioner; Joseph
Aeschleman, assessor; and Carl Gerdes,
Nor\"ol Ford, and Ralph Laible, auditors.

There are two churches with congrega-
tions in Linn Township. In 1914, the Linn
Township Amish Mennonite Church was
established in Section 33. Peter Zimmer-
man and John Kennel were the first
bishops. The old structiue was torn down
in 1954 and a new building erected. John
Hostetler is bishop and Harold Hostetler is
minister at this writing.

At one time Linn Township had two
Lutheran churches, both located in Sec-
tion 36. The Missouri Lutheran building
was moved to Roanoke in 1917. The St.
Peter's Lutheran Church, founded in Roan-
oke Township, was mo\ed to its present

Linn Township

SiiiKlax- outinjr at St. Peter's Lutlieraii Clmreh in Linn Township in 1908.

lotatioii ill 1S71. The liiiilding now stand-
ing was huilt in 1910; four years later the
parsonage was ereeted. The Siinda\' Seliool
was organized in 1913 and the Luther
League in 1916. In lionor of the 75tli anni-
\ersary ( in 19'3.3 ) the eliureli was redeco-
rated. A parish hall was erected in 19.3S.
The congregation celebrated its 100th an-
ni\ersary in 19.5S. Tlie church once lie-
longed to the Iowa Synod. Today it is
known as the .American Lutheran. The
first pastor was Pauhis Held ( 1S6.3-1S65).
Re\'. Ehiier E. Ele/.\ is now pastor.

Linn Township has two large cemeteries,
one located in Section 7, part of the fonner
Robbins farm. Even though the records
only go back to 1866. a gra\ e marker states
that William Greening was buried in 1860.
On .March 19, 1923, under an organization
act of the State of Illinois, the cemetery

was officialK' named Linn Township Mount
\'ernon Cemetery of Washburn, Illinois.
The other large cemetery is located in Sec-
tion 36, west of the St. Peter's Lutheran
Church. Among the old gravestones that
are still legible are those of J. D. Schlecher,
buried in 1865, and Reemt Looger, buried
in 1868.

A fi'w rods to the south, where the Mis-
souri Lutheran Church once stood, is a
smaller cemetery. Two of the old grave
markers Inar the names of M. Wessel,
buried in 1874, and Marie W'eber, buried
in 1875. There is a very small cemetery in
Section 10. known as the Hawk Cemetery,
on the former Hawk land. There are also
two tombstones in Section 2. There are
probal)ly many unmarked graxes of small
children.

Metamora Townslii

Mrs. Kexneth Smith, Mrs. Ernest Sullivan and Mrs. Marvin Keys

The Early Years

The Village of Hanover was laid out In-
tlie Hano\er Company in 1835. The first
courageous settlers saw in its land the
piomise of a good life and through hard
work and many heartaches their dreams
slowly took shape. The beautiful park in
the center of the public square was deeded
to the town on June 7, 1836 by William
Da\'enport, a member of the Hanover
Company, with the stipulation that it be
kept as a park.

Upon learning of another Hanover, Ilh-
nois, the name of the town was changed
to Metamora. The name, according to local
history, was the suggestion of Mrs. Peter
Willard. who came from the east where a
popular play of the time was titled "Meta-
mora". The main character in the play was
an Indian "Metamoras" — the Indian name
of King Phillip.

Moving the county seat from Versailles
to Metamora in 1843 and erecting the
courthouse in 1844 helped to speed the
growth and de\elopment of the town. The
jail was built shortly after. The courthouse
was built by Da\id Irving, who burned his
own bricks, felled the timbers, cut logs and
hauled them to the sawmill where the
lumber was sawed. The building cost
$4,400 and was considered one of the most
beautiful in the state. Through the doors
of this building passed some of the greatest
and best known men in our history; per-
haps the greatest of all these was Abraham
Lincoln who rode the 8th Judicial Circuit,
the circuit to which Metamora was as-
signed. Lincoln came to Metamora oxer a
span of 12 years (1844-56) and his tall,
lanky figure was familiar to its citizens.

His sincerit)', honest)- and wit endeared
him to all who met him.

Men told stories of pitching horseshoes
with Abe or sitting in the shade of the
park just talking. Others told of enjoyable
e\'enings spent around the fire at the Meta-
mora House, the hotel in which he stayed
while court was in session here, listening
to the famous stories Abe was known to
delight in telling. Still others remembered
best his appearance at court. One of these
cases was a murder case in which Lincoln
acted as a lawyer for Melissa Goings, ac-
cused of killing her husband. According
to information found in the Common Law-
Record 1857-61 — Record of Circuit Court
at Oct. Term A.D. 1857 — Mrs. Goings was
attended by Gro\-es and Lincoln, her at-
torneys.

It is told that Lincoln asked for a recess
in the proceedings during which time he
wished to talk to his client in one of the
offices downstairs in the Courthouse. When
court con\'ened again Mrs. Goings did not
appear. The bailiff, under w-hose jurisdic-
tion the accused had been placed, accused
Lincoln of telling her to leave as he had
seen them whispering. Lincoln denied the
charges and said that she had just asked
him where she could get a good, cool drink
of water and that he told her Tennessee
had darn good water. Mrs. Goings was re-
portedly never seen in the state again.

Also found in the aforementioned Com-
mon Law Record book was an indictment
for an attempt to bribe an officer brought
against the son of the accused, along with
the list of jurors for the trial; the judge,
Hon. James Harriett; Hugh Fullerton,

Metanioia Toun^liii>

r-'r-miiiji;itiitii

Till- cdurticioTii (i| llic \lct:iimiia CdurtliDiisr as it appeared wliiii Ahialiani I .inedln rode the I'a'uhtli (areiiit.

states attorney, and tlic names of the
slieiiii and court clerk.

During the senatorial campaign of 1S58
both Lincoln and Douglas spoke at Nfeta-
mora — Douglas on Sept. 30 and LiTicoIn
Oct. 4. The speeches wimi' made in what
was at tiiat time known as Page's Cro\e
about one-half mile out of town. 0\er 100
\ears later, a Chicago newspaper reporter
\isited the scene and in an article that ap-
peared in his paper, he referred to the fact
that the site was then a sheep's nm. and if
hmnans had forgotten what had been said
on their behalf there by these great men,
he wondered if the sheep knew on what
hallowed ground they walked.

Some of the other noted men who prac-
ticed here were — Adlai Iv Stevenson I, who
li\('d and practiced l,i\\ in Metamora for
10 \-ears — he was to become \'ice Presi-
dent of th<> U.S. during Ciroxer Cleveland's
second administration; Stephen A. Douglas,
who deti'ated Lincoln in the senatorial
race, but was later to be defeated by Lin-
coln lor till- presidency; Judge Da\id
Da\ is, appointed to the Supreme f'onrt by

Lincoln and who was executor of Lincoln's
estate after his assassination: liobert G.
Ingersoll, Judge Samuel H. Treat, Bazil D.
Meek, Judge Norman H. Purple, Charles
H. ChittN, Robert T. Cassell, Hon. Samuel
L. Richmond, and Simon P. Shope. There
were many others, too numerous to men-
tion, and each in his own right a "great"
in oiu' early history.

In 1894, the county seat was moved to
Eureka and until 1921 when the state took
over the Courthouse and made il into a
state memorial, the people of the town
used it as a meeting place both for organi-
zations and for social e\("nts.

Metamora has gone through the same
growing pains as has an\- other small town.
It has seen the coming of the telephone,
electric lights, and automobiles replacing
the fann'liar horse and buggy. Businesses
were begun, ended, or ehanged hands —
some were enlarged, and the latest e(|uip-
nient installed. More churches were built,
schools ad\anced, and the enrollment
grew. In spite ol the ups and downs, the
town grew with the times, and because of

the foresight and courage of the early set-
tlers, their hopes and dreams have now be-
come reahty.

Organization of Village

The town of Hanover in the County of
Tazewell in the State of Illinois was platted
and laid out by William Davenport as
agent of the Hanover Company May 26,
1836.

It was incorporated by special Act of the
General Assembly Feb. 21, 1845 and its
name changed to Metamora. It was incor-
porated as a village April 26, 1875 under
the general law for the incorporation of
cities and villages in force July 1, 1872.

The geographical location of Metamora
Township is such that it touches the north-
east corner of Tazewell County; lies east
of Worth Township, south of Cazenovia,
west of Roanoke and north of Cruger, and
is known as Township 27 North, Range 2
West of the Third Principal Meridian.

Early Settlers

Settlers began to come into the area,
now known as Metamora Township, as
early as the 1820"s most of them living in
crude cabins along the larger streams. No
real settlement was established until in the
1830"s when Hano\er, later to be known
as Metamora, began its growth.

The eastern and southern states fur-
nished us with most of the early pioneers,
though a few came directh' from France,
Ireland, and Switzerland.

It would, of course, be impossible to
list the names of all the men who played a
part in the development of this township,
but early histories mention the following
persons as living here prior to and includ-
ing the 1860's:

Woodford County History

William Sowavds
Solomon Sowards
Daniel Sowards
George Kingston
David Banta
Cornelius Banta
Peter Enffle, Sr.
John Verkler
Christian Smith
John Page, Sr.
Humphrey Leighton
C. P. Mason
Joseph Verkler
John Engle

John Brickler
Joseph Bachnian
Francis Bregeard
Itev. Christian Kngle
Michael Toerger

Pichereau

Kohert T. Cassell
Jacoh Banta
Albert Banta
Marcelin Farner
Wm. H. Delph
l'<t)enezer Page
Nathaniel Wilson
Stephen Dudle.v

John Mason
Jacoh Reeder
J oseph Marley
Thomas Warren
Dr. J. S. Whitmire
Dr. Z. H. Whitmire
George Ray
Samuel J. Cross
James Bays
Benjamin Williams
Amos A. Brown
Judge W. P. Brown
Wilson Tucker
Jesse Dale
Joseph Wilkerson
Wm. Rockwell
Levi P. Morse
David Irving
.James Mitchell
Hon. .Joel A. Ranney
Rev. Ezra B. Kellogg
Rev. Wm. Davenport
Peter H. Willard
Alfred Baker

Samuel S. Parks
Wm. Lanison
F. P. Briggs
H. L. S. Haskell
P>lgar Bahcock
Elijah Plank
Rev. Miles
Rev. Henry Palmer
Rev. A. B. Cramh
Rev. C. D. Merritt
Rev. .John Luccock
Rev. S. R. Hardman
Father Wm. Deiters
John L. Miller
Kvan Trunnel
J . Sickler
Nathan Brown
Parker Morse, Sr.
J. Sherman
Judge Pointer
Dr. Leamon
L. F. Feilitzsch
Thomas Powers
— Harl

Churches

Mennonite Church. The local Mennonite
Church dates back to 1833, when Bishop
Christian Engel was instrumental in its or-
ganization. Most of the early members
had come from Alsace Loraine, France.
Services were held in homes until 1854
when a brick church was erected approxi-
mately four miles west of Metamora. This
was their meeting place for a number of
years, gradually falling into disuse after
the erection of a frame church one mile
east of Metamora in 1869. A second frame
building in 1911 replaced the first one; the
land occupied by both churches had been
donated by Christian Camp.

When tile present church building was
dedicated in 1952, Henry R. Schertz was
the pastor. Today the congregation of 400
people is under the leadership of Rev. Roy
Bucher.

In the early days of the congregation,
the membership was composed almost en-
tirely of farm famihes. Now the pattern has
changed, for more than 70% of the mem-
bers operate their own businesses or are
office and industrial workers, teachers, or
registered nurses.

The past century has brought about
man\^ changes in the group, but the basic
message of the church remains unchanged.

Christian Union Church. Perhaps the ear-
liest Sunday School in Metamora was or-
ganized b\- Parker Morse in his own home
hi 1837.

Mctainorii Toiin.sliip

Tlic first church (.'difice in the \illagi'
was tlic Episcopal (luucli, crectccl in 1847.
It was a franii' building costing about
$2,500. Rc\-. Kellogg was tlic first pastor.
In 1S4S, the congregation numliered 25.

The C'ongregational Church was built
soon afterward, w ith Re\ . Sloat as nn'nister,
and boasted a membership of 50. First
Christian Churcli. liuilt around 1849 or
1850. was dedicated b\ Rev. O. A. Burgess:
it had a incnibeiship ol SO. Tlu' Baptist
Soeiet\' was organi/ed Decenib(>r 26, 18.50.
under the ministi'rial care of the Re\'. A. B.
Crainb. W'iien the ciiurcii building was
erected in 1854, thert' was a membership
of about .50. This building was later used
by the Evangelical Reformed Church.

The Methodist Church, erected in 185.5.
was a substantial l)rick building with di-
mensions of .36 by 48 feet, and cost S2,.300
without furnishings.

In the year 1872. the Mcthoilist ami
Congregational churches imited. In the
fall of 1878, fixe k'ading citizens of Meta-
niora met in the home of Isaac W'ikofl to
review the standing of the churches, their
small memberships, and the inability of
each church to pay a minister a fair salary.
It was decided to umte the fixe congrega-
tions into one body to be called the Chris-
tian Union.

The Methodist (!hurch building xxas
chosen as the home ol the nexvly organi/ed
church. This building was used until 1923,
when the present sanctuary was built. At
that time, the Evangelical Reformed con-
gregation also became part of the Chris-
tian Union.

The Christian I'nion has remained inter-
denominational imtil the present. Many
pastors of \arious Christian faiths have
served the congregation, although for some
vears the ministers lixed clscxxhere. Min-
isters of the Methodist, Christian ( Dis-
ciples), Episcopal, Exangclical. Ignited
Brethren, Community Church, and pres-
ently the United Church of Christ have
served the C'hristian Union. Rev. Clifford
Janssen is the present minister.
St. Man/s Cliurrh. Local members of the
(Catholic faith attended church at Lourdes,

in Worth Tox\ nship, until 186 1, x\ hen St.
.Marx's of Mctamora x\as completed. Early
records of the chinch shoxx- such names as
Gangloff. Waldschmidt. Alig, Wtter, Hein-
ingcr, Rohman. I'^lbert. Regele, Miller,
Kinhafer. Seckler. Get/, Noirot. Cwies,
Knoblauch, and Shea, indicating people of
German. I"rench, and Irish origin.

in early years, after its organization, the
chinch was served by priests of the Re-
demptorist Order in Chicago, Father
Mager being the first resident priest. lie
served both the Lourdes and St. .Mary's
churches, and is buried in the Lourdes
cemetery.

After the formation of the I'eoria diocese
in 1877, the Capuchin Order took over St.
.Mary's and, under the leadership of Bishop
Spalding, rebuilt the church into its present
form. They also added a parsonage on the
vvTSt side of the building which was used
until fire destrovt-d it in 1910; after xxhich
the present residence was erected.

In 1894 another change took place x\ hen
the church came under the control of the
Franciscan Fathers of St. John the Baptist
proxince in Cincinnati. Of this order.
Father Edmund Klein xvas the first pastor
to serve the parish, folloxved by some 20
other priests through the years. Father
Raphael CHause is the present pastor. St.
Mary's has had a school connected xx ith
tlie parish for nearly all the 104 yeais of
its existence.

Schools

Although the early settlers came into a
wilderness, after their homes were built
their primary concern was for the educa-
tion ol the children. The first schools xvere
strictlx local affairs, the teacher boarding
xxith first one family then another, holding
school wherexer she was currently living,
llcr salarv came from private contribu-
tions.

Gradually one-room schools were erected
and were usually the center for most com-
munity activities, including religious serv-
ices, basket socials, cake walks, corn days
(countrx- fairs) and spell-doxxiis. TIk^

names chosen for these schools stir one's
imagination — in Metamora Townsliip were
Happy Hour, Hazel Dell, Lowell, Morse-
town, Mt. Pleasant, Harmony and Maple
Gro\e.

The first \illage school was built at about
the same time as was the courthouse, 1845.
It was replaced in 1850 by a two-story
brick building erected on the corner of
Partridge and Hanover streets; here the
lower grades occupied the first floor, and
the high school and Nhisonic Hall the sec-
ond floor. This was the set-up until 1872
when fire, unhampered by any fire-fight-
ing e<iuipnient, completely destroyed the
building.

Immediate rebuilding was begun, and
by 1873, Solomon Egbert, a local contrac-
tor, had completed on the same site a new
two-story brick structure which \\'as to
ser\'e as both grade and high school until
1915. In that year the orphanage, operated
by the Sisters of St. Francis, was purchased
and opened in the fall as a four-year high
school. Most of this building has since been
replaced and new structures erected to ac-
commodate the 568 students now enrolled.
The first permanent school of St. Mary's
Parish was started in 1874 with Charles
Wernert serving as the teacher. For a time
it was under the direction of the Ursuline
Sisters, but since 1894 it has been operated
b\ the Sisters of St. Francis. The present
brick building was erected in 1923.

Consolidation of the area schools began
about 1935 and gradualh' the rural school-
houses were closed; some of them later
were converted to residences, others were
used for storage, and a few were torn
down. The children are now brought l^y
buses ( 14 of them! ) to the high school, to
St. Mary's, and to the new grade school,
built in 1952, at the east edge of Metamora.
Modern teaching methods include closed
circuit TV beamed from Bradley University
in Peoria, offering science, art and English
material that Nvas largely unknown to the
students of a half-century ago. The prac-
tice of teaching simpK- "the three R's" is
indeed a thing of the past!

Woodford Corintij History

Railroad

First promise of a railroad was heard
around 1856, but it was not until 1870 that
the first train was greeted by large crowds
and a brass band. According to an account
in the Woodford Sentinel "Metamora is
now a railroad town and ready to take her
place among the great business marts of
the country."

The C.&A. railroad, now known as the
G.M.&O., still maintains a depot here,
though the plush passenger trains and
numerous freights are "gone \\'ith the
wind." Among the agents who managed
the rail business during those busy times
were a Mr. Day, Ed Robocker, H. G.
Martin, Wm. Sommers, Turner Young and
Al Crow. The present agent, Wm. Wil-
liams is now serving his 46th year, having
started on the job in 1922.
Metamora Herald. The history of any tovm
would be incomplete without the history
of its local newspaper. Our paper had its
beginning in 1854 when the Woodford
County Arii((.s went to press, with a gentle-
man named A. N. Shepherd its editor. The
name was changed to the Woodford Sen-
tinel the same year. The first issue, printed
in Peoria, was brought to Metamora and a
copy was flown like a flag from a pole.

The >'ears to follow saw a number of
different editors and in 1889 the name was
changed to the Metamora Herald. In 1904,
William Ryan became editor and continued
in this capacity for 54 \ears. After his re-
tirement in 1958 the paper again changed
hands several times. The present editor of
the oldest newspaper in Woodford County
is Mrs. Dale Fitzgerald.

Post Office

Over the years the post office was lo-
cated in various buildings. In 1894 it was
in the Herman J. Pelz drug store and a
few years later moved to a small room to
the rear of the Metamora Bank building,
where it remained until 1939 when the
present building was erected. The Meta-
mora post office was one of the first in the
Middle West to be organized for rural free

Mcfaiiiora Toinisliip

dclixiTv soon after the iiiaiiguration ol tliis
senice in 1902. A complete list of post-
masters has iie\er been available, hut rec-
ords show that D. S. Rohinsoii was ap-
pointed in 1S5S; the present postmaster.
Kenneth Willinan. was appointed in 1952.

Teleplione Service

About 1900 the switchboard was located
on the lower Hoor of the buildinji now
housinu; Roths barber shop, at tlie same
time Louis .\lcister operated a grocery
bu.siness there. About two \cars later the
equipment was inoxed to the upper floor
of the building. Peter .V. Sommers owned
(he business in 1907 when it was located in
a small frame building on the corner of
Menard and Partridge streets. This build-
ing was moved to the rear of the lot and
a new liuilding erected and in 1909 the
switchboard was located on the second
floor of the new bm'lding.

In the earK 1920s, Mr. Sommers built
a two-stor\- dwelling to house the ecjuip-
ment; after his death in 1942, his familv
continued to operate the business until it
was sold to Ray Rauh in 1945. In 1957 the
niw building was erected to house dial
switching ccjuipment and a business office.
Dial service began in 1958 for 1,160 phones
in the .Metamora-CJermantown Hills area.
Direct distance dialing \\as inaugurated in
1963 and automatic number identification
for direct distance dialing was placed in
service in Febmary 1968. There are no\v'
1,860 telephones in th(> Metamora-Ccrman-
town Hills system.

Waterworks

The first \illage waterworks was com-
pleted in 1889 and it was said that no
\illage of its size could boast a finer one.
The system included a duple.x pump. 800
yards of cast iron mains, a brick tower
65 feet high, upon which rested a 1,600
barrel tank. Through the >ears improve-
ments have been made to the system and
in 1959 a new 200.000 gallon water tank
and softening plant wen- built. Ceorge
Ganglofi is the present water superintend-
ent. With tlie $1,250,000 sewer svsteni now

under way llu' di'partment is now known
as tlie Water and Sewer !)< parliiunt.

Electricity

It was fifteen \'ears after the ([uestion
of eiectricitv- for the town was first asked,
that its u.se became a reality. W. |. Whelzel
of Eureka approached thi' village board in
the earlv part of 1909 and promised im-
mediate service. His plant at that time
supplied electrical service to Eureka and
Roanoke and lines could easih be extended
to suppiv- the village of .Mctamora as well
as residents. On Julv' 17. 1909, Marshal
Ilenrv Nhutin turned a kev on a switch-
board in the Opera House, throwing Meta-
mora's lighting .system into practical serv-
ice.

N'illage residences were w ired as rapiillv
as possible, although elcctricilv' was onlv
prov ided in the evening until midnight. Bv
(he end of 1912 a large circuit from Peoria
(ias and Electric ('ompanv- was connected,
providing 24 hour serv ice. Thus ended the
era of gas lights, candles, lanterns and the
old lamplighter.

The use ol natural gas was made avail-
able ill I9.")7 and todav about 85'/ of the
residents use it lor eillier cooking or heat-
ing or both.

Metaniora I'ire Department

I'litil ihe year 1889. the citi/ens of Nfeta-
mora were virtually unprotcetcd from the
hazard of fires. Before this time two major
fires had destroyed huge sections of the
business area. As the dread crv of "Kire"
moved the people of that era to action,
this same tear moves the present genera-
tion to strive for better fire protection.

With the construction of the original
water tank in 1889 came the formation of
the first volunteer fire companv'. Officers of
the first company were Frank (iiehl. fore-
man, and Harry Sweeney, assistant.

iMIuipment used at the time of a 1900
inventory consisted of two hose carts, six
ladders (carried to the fires by the men),
four rubber coats and hats, two a.xes, 14
wrenches, eight lanterns and. 1,700 feet of
hose; all hou.sed under the bandstand in
the jjark.

Woodford County Uistorij

In 1917 a Buick car cliassis on whicli a
fire truck body was mounted became the
first mechanized piece of fire equipment.
The first custom-built fire truck was a 1932
Dodge pumper and is still used for pump-
ing basements, and it could l^e used for
fire fighting should the occasion arise.

In 1941, a major fire destroyed several
business houses on the east side of the
square, causing the fire company and citi-
zens of the area to realize the need for
more fire fighting equipment. A new
pumper was purchased in 1946.

As the community grew in size, the fire
equipment was again found to be inade-
quate to provide the best fire protection.
The Metamora Rural Fire District was
formed in December 1961. Three trustees
were named to work \\ith the \ illage board
and the fire company to provide better fire
protection for the rural area. These trus-
tees, named and still ser\ing, are Russell
Shea, Ben Streid, and William Tanton. In
1963 the district purchased a pumper,
owned by the district but housed and
maintained by the \'illage of Metamora
and the fire company, \\'hich is used for
both rural and village fires.

The present fire station was completed
in April, 1964. A new rescue \ an was pur-
chased to aid in the department's rescue
operations and at the present time the
Rural Fire District is getting a water tank
truck to be used by the fire company.
Metamora Woodworking has formed a fire
brigade to assist the firemen should there
be a fire at the plant. The present fire com-
pany has 2.5 volunteer members, all of
whom belong to the Woodford Count)
Firemen's Association and the Illinois Fire-
men's Association.

Present officers of the fire company are:
Robert L. Garber, chief; Richard Hodel,
1st assistant chief; Jerome Stickelmaier,
2nd assistant chief; Kenneth L. Smith,
secretary-treasurer; and Roland Elbert and
Robert Mason, captains.

Metamora Organizations

In the 1.32 >ears of its existence, Meta-
mora has seen manv civic and social or-

ganizations rise and flourish, some of which
are still serving the community.

The earliest one was probably that of
Metamora Lodge No. 82, A.F. &A.M.,
which was chartered in 1850. The group
was active until 1872 when fire destroyed
their hall and all its contents. A charter
was reissued in 1873, but in 1885 the chap-
ter merged with Taylor Lodge in nearby
Washington.

The Old Settlers Association, formed in
1875, drew together the old-timers of the
entire county, and the annual picnics held
in the Metamora park were anticipated by
all. Over the years the group has reor-
ganized several times, and the celebrations
now held are sponsored locally. Many
prominent persons have served as speaker
of the da>-, perhaps the best kno\\Ti being
Adlai E. Stevenson II, while he was serving
as go\emor of our state.

The businessmen of the \illage banded
together prior to 1906 to serve as both a
cixic and social group. In the days when
entertainment was not furnished by a tele-
\ision set or a movie screen, gay indeed
were the parties held in old Wikotf Hall!
But along with the fun, the members were
ever ready to keep the wheels of progress
rolling, a tradition that is still carried out
today.

A Boy Scout troop was organized in Met-
amora about 1917 by Prof. H. W. Seitz; it
was short-li\ed. but the program was re-
acti\ated in 1938 with the Rev. Melvin
Soltau and Flo>'d Nuhn as scoutmasters,
under the sponsorship of the local Ameri-
can Legion Post. Scouting has played a big
part in the li\es of man\- bo\s of this area
the p.xst thirty years, and indications are
that it will continue to do so in the future.
A number of patient scoutmasters deserve
warm thanks for the hours and hours they
have devoted to our youth.

An organization of Campfire Girls was
in existence here for a short time back in
the early '20's, but no Girl Scout troop was
started until 1943 \vhen two high school
teachers. Miss Margerx' Kraus and Miss J.
Agnes Malkus, were instrumental in get-
ting the program started. Later aflfili;ition

Mctauwm Tounship

with tlic Kitkapoo (.'(niiicil gaw tln' i;iils
and tluir leaders access to the ad\antagcs
oHcrcd li\ the national ijroup. Since its de-
\('l()piiuiit In Kiikapoo Council in 1957.
C^anip Tapawingo, located just west ol
Metaniora. has furnished the setting for
nian\' canip-outs and field trips for girls
of the Peoria area.

The American Legion Post organized
short K after tlii' close of World War I
was na]ned Fred Herring Post No. 89 to
honor the memory of a local hoy killed in
sersice. Joel .\. Hannex- was elected the
post's first coniniander, and he anil Louis
.\. Willman ha\e now enjoNcd 49 xears
of continuous membership each. Ernest L.
Sulli\an was the posts one lih' meiiiher.

Man\' comnumitx' projects ha\e been
iiromoted b\ the Legion members oxer
the years. They have .sponsored the I3o\'
Scout program, lead the annual Memorial
Day scrxices, haxe each year sent a local
boy to Illinois Boys' State, and haxe gixxMi
Legion axxards to outstanding students.
They made a substantial contribution to
the ilrixi' for funds h)r the sxximmiug pool,
beside supporting their oxxn .\mcriean
Legion projects. Working along \xith them
since 19.32 has been the Ladies .\u.\iliarx',
xxhose members actively promote xarious
x'ett'rans" actixities.

.\ number ot other groups haxi' spnmg
into being, flourished for axxhile, then haxi"
become inactixc. .-Kmong them might be
mentioned the (.'atholic Order of Foresters,
started in the 1920's; the Modern Wood-
men of America and its Au.xiliarx group,
the I^oyal Neighbors; the Grange, pro-
moted principallx' by farmers of the sm--
rounding area; the Toxxnsend Club, affili-
ated with the national mox'ement which
adxocated that all citizens of the U.S. ox cr
60 xcars of age be paid S20() per month,
the funds to come from a 2? tax on the
sale of goods; and the Lion's Club which
xx'as x-erx' actixe from the early "40's until
about 1934.

Three organiziitions that haxe sexend
xt'ars and manx' accomplishments to their
credit are the Knights of Columbus, started
in 1947; the Woman's C'lub. begun in

1955; ;mk1 the Home Ivxteusiou unit, origi-
nating in the 1930's as the Home Bureau.

Since 1960 \xe find in toxxn an actix'c
\'FW post and its ladies' ;ui.\ili;n\ ; the Jaix
Cees, to whom we are indebted tor ovir
bciUitifully decorated strei'ts during the
(.'hristmas season and for manx' sports ac-
tixities for our young people; the newly
created Park Board xx-hich has interesting
plans for the future of our toxx'n; and the
Rotary Clul) which is still in its inl;m(y in
this area.

Each of till' abox I' mentioned organiza-
tions has played or is nox\ phiying its p;ut
ill the development of the lonununity;
xxitliout them and the felloxxship and de-
ti'rmiuation tlii'X' haxe eugeiidi'ri'il, our
toxxn coulil iii'xer be!

Library

.\ccording to the WooiKord C!ounty
historx-. 1S7.S, the first librarx' in Metamora
x\as established in 1857 and x\;is larger
than those usuallx' found in a sm;ill toxvn.
It had 1.200 xolumes anil xxas condueted
on such a liberal scale as to alloxx all citi-
zens to enjox' its benefits. .\ sluire of $4,
xxith $1 a year dues constituted a member-
ship ;mil. xxith the rexeiiue thus oblaiued,
the societx' xxas constantly adding xahiable
books to the library.

About 1928 or 1929, another librarx' xvas
stiuti'd and xxas located in the Metamora
Courthouse. It xxas operated bx' high school
students on a xolunteer basis. The boaril
members xxire S. M. Snyder, William
Ry;ni, and Ida Belslx .

The Illinois Prairie District i.ibrarx be-
c;uiie a realitx' in Jul)-. 19.50 when it was
xoted in as a ta.x-supported librarx and
was composed of sexen toxxnships in
Woodford County. Metamora xvas named
the iiexx headquarters because of its central
location. Mrs. Leta McNally xx'as hired as
the first district librarian ami Miss Edith
Mc(-askex' xxas the first Bookmobile libna-
ian. The bookmoljile xxonld make regular
runs to all the schools in the are;i on a fixed
schedule. The first run xvas in October,
1950 to 23 area schools.

The first district libr;nx board xvas nuide

up of Mrs. Lloyd Wagner, Mrs. Angle
Smith, Mrs. Madeline Sulli\an, Rev. Ralph
Fitch, and Mrs. Arthur Engel. Some of
these people still serve on the board and
have watched its continuous growth.

The summer reading club, the book float
contest for the school children, and the
book fair at the Old Settlers Celebration
are some of the extra activities sponsored
by the library.

The present librarian is Alvin Glaub and
the circulation librarian is Mrs. Clarice
Hahn, who was one of the aforementioned
high school student volunteers.

At the end of the fiscal year June 30,
1967 the book xolume had grown to 47,552
and total circulation for the year to 133,821.
The selection of books has steadily im-
proved and the value of the material a\ail-
able is increasingly important to all who
\isit any branch of the Illinois Prairie Dis-
trict Librar\-.

Industry in Metamora

The early settlers were mainly farmers,
business or professional men. The trend
has changed throughout the years and to-
day a large number of our citizens com-
mute to Peoria and other towns to their
jobs. The advancement of large industry
has lirought industry to our town, many of
our own men and women as well as those
of the surrounding areas are employed in
Metamora's industries.

McBride and Shoff Machine Shop opened
their place of business in Metamora in
1951, employing 30 men, and since that
time tlie plant has expanded four times and
now employs approximately 100 men. It
is one of the most modern and well
equipped shops in the state and does work
for Hyster and the Caterpillar Tractor
Company.

Fauber's Crecnhouse. What started as a
hobby and pastime for Carl Fauber in
1946, has grown to a fulltime business. In
1947 they added the growing of vegetable
plants for area gardeners. By the spring
of 194S, with some schooling and a lot of
ambition, both Mr. and Mrs. Fauber
started into the arranging and designing

Woodford County Historij

of floral pieces for all occasions. In 1955

the business had grown and both quit

their previous jobs to de\ote full time
to tile greenhouse and florist business. The

last addition to the building was in 1965

and what started as a local trade now
serves a radius of 35 miles.

Metamora Woodworking Co. May, 1947,
saw the beginning of this business in Meta-
mora. All work was then done by hand,
by trial and error, and there was almost
lOOf personnel turnover. It has grown from
30,000 sq. ft. of work area until it now
covers about 200.000 scj. ft. They use the
most modem methods and the best equip-
ment a\'ailable to manufacture Hallmark
wooden greeting displa\- fixtures. Em-
ployees number about 130.

Flijnn Drainage Co. In 1958 Mr. James
Flynn started his business here in Meta-
mora with a crew of about six men. Since
then the business of manufacturing cor-
rugated metal culverts and related drain-
age products has tripled and he now em-
ploys 20 men. The products are sold
throughout the entire state of Illinois.

Moorman Mfg. Co. operations here in
the Metamora Warehouse began Jan. 25,
1960. They handle a complete line of con-
centrates and minerals for livestock and
poultry, plus a line of products designed
for parasite control. They ser\'e a 32 to 35
mile radius around Metamora, employ one
man full time with about 12 salespeople
who work out of the local warehouse.

Metamore Industries Inc. had its begin-
ning in 1965 and employed three men.
The\- manufacture finished parts for Hyster
and the Caterpillar Tractor Company. \A'ith
the addition of new machiner)' the plant
now employs 14 men.

Metamora A])attoir was built in 1945 and
did custom slaughtering for farmers as well
as processing fruits, vegetables, and meat
for indi\idual lockers. In 1960, a retail
meat market was added to the plant and
in 1967 more cooler space was built to
handle the increased number of li\estock
slaughtered. There are 10 full time em-

Mitamoia Y'oic/is/n/)

ploM'cs and thiec part tinu'. It is operated
1)\ Harold Zohrist \ Sons.

Metamora Iiiipleincnt Co., Inc. started as
part of thf McRride & Slioll iinplcmont
business. On November 1, 1967 the business
was incorporated under the name of Meta-
mora Implement Co., Inc. operated b\ Mr.
Cohnan .\lig and Mr. John D. Garber. This
firm now has se\en eniplo\ees and liandles
a complete line of Allis-Chaliners, J. I.
Case, and New Holland farm m Kliiner\ .
also selling Homelite chain saw s.

Schk'icrs Dairy. Ben Schierer opt'iied the
original plant in Metamora in 1933. I'rom
200 gallons of milk processed at a time they
now process 2.000 gallons per hour. The
first ice cream was made 2' 2 gallons at a
time and now 750 gallons are made per
hour. The plant has been enlarged several
times and modern ecjuipment installed. Mr.
Schierer and his two sons today operate
10 dair\- stores in se\eral towns and in all
emplo\- 65 people. They also serve farm
customers and have two distributors who
sell Schierers milk on home delivery routes.

Business Past and Present

From the Woodford County History of
1.S7S we read: —

"The first store in the \ illage was opened
by Wilson Tucker, who was soon followed
by Israel and Weeks. The first permanent
store was that of Parks who bought a stock
of goods from Philadelphia and opened
where Dr. Z. H. Wliitmire's office now
stands. In 1843 Peter H. Willard opened
a store in the Village of Metamora. In
1851 a foundry was built b\- L. C. Blakes-
ley and Companv' and flourished some
three or four years. The large steam flour-
ing mill is owiicd and was built bv' M.
Tool in 1S6S. it is a two-storv building
with two runs of burrs. Built just after the
war when material was high, it cost af)Out
SIO.OOO. It is the only mill in the township
and is constantK employed up to its ca-
pacitv .

"The grain elevator now owned by Peter
Schertz, was built in 1S70. It is a strong
frame building, liolds 25,000 bushels of

grain, and cost S3,.500. Mr. .Sehert/ handles
grain and also deals in lumber.

"The Metamora Bank was established in
1873 by James F. Earl. In 1875 it was pur-
chased bv- John \\'. and .Vdino Page, who
still own the institution and do a general
banking business. Isaac Wikoff is likewise
engaged in banking in connection w ith his
business as a druggist.

"The village boasts of no large tountlries,
manufactories, wholesale houses or ma-
chine shops, but the business is confined
entirely to the retail branches of the trade.
There are three general stores, two drug
stores, two hardware stores and two har-
ness shops.

"The practicing phvsicians are Drs. J. S.
and Z. H. Whitmire and A. H. Kinnear.
The legal fraternity is well and ably repre-
sented in the following gentlemen learned
in the law: Judge W. P. Brown, S. S. Page,
L. F. Feilitzech, Judge C. H. Chitty, Elijah
Planck, W. L. Elwood, Albert Rich."

As the town grew, other businesses
sprang up in numbers. In a small 1890
directory it was stated: "There are over 50
difi^erent business firms in the city, among
them are represented every line of busi-
ness common to our inland western towns
— merchants, mechanics, millers, grocery-
men, hardwaremen, druggists, blacksmiths,
wagon and carriage makers, lawyers and
doctors.

The village sijuare was deeded to the
town in LS.36 and was patterned after the
village siiuares in Vermont and New
Hampshire. In the years between 1900 and
1960 most of the business was done around
this famed village park.

With the dawning of the tvvintielh cen-
tury, younger men were coming into prom-
inence. The grain elevators were now owned
bv- J. H. Wagner and the Snyder Bros. Hon.
J. L. McCJuire bought the old Page proper-
ties, the corner \vhere the library now
stands, and the comer where the K. of C
building is now located. New buildings
were erected within a few years. Frank
(iiehl Jr., .son of \'alentine Giehl, opened
a hardware store in the first building men-
tioned. The telephone- switchboard, on the

second floor, and Dr. Har\ey. dentist, on
the first floor of the old building on the
corner of Menard and Partridge, conducted
business as usual until the new concrete
block building was completed. The old
building had been moved to the rear of
the lot, temporarily.

Heiple and Kingsbury bought the bank
from Peter Schert/ in 1902, remodeled it
in 1906, and sold it to the Snyder Bros, in
1908.

When the Sn>'der Bros, sold their grain
elevator in 1907, the extensive business was
divided. H. J. Wykle of Peoria, bought the
grain and coal business. Jacob Schrepfer,
who had managed the lumber\'ard for a
number of years, bought that portion of
the business. Schrepfer operated the lum-
beryard until 1913, when he turned it over
to his son, LeRoy, and Harry Martin, a
son of A. J. Martin, a carpenter in Meta-
mora for many years.

The automobile, another innoxation af-
fecting the community around this time,
caused blacksmiths to add auto repair ma-
chinery, and implement houses to become
auto sales agencies.

In 1909, VV. T. Bolle opened a black-
smith and repair shop on the lots where
once stood the firm, Kellogg and Reeder,
custom carriage makers, east of the present
post office.

J. C. Snyder erected a garage in 1910,
on the lot between Adino McGuire's build-
ing (formerly Andrew Wiltz's) and Miller
Bros, store, fast on the breathless news that
Barney Oldfield had traveled 200 ft. a
second at the Illinois State Fair.

Business was looking up in other areas,
for auctioneers, C. L. Stixers and Garrett
Mason, reported that farm sales were the
best in 36 years.

Fred Grob left the employ of John F.
Isch and started his own grocery store in
the old Shetterly building on the south
side of the square (now Garber's new
store ) . A new ice company was formed b\'
local business men headed by E. W. Kno-
blauch and J. C. Snyder, to insure ice for
the community. The Theena brothers, w ho
had previously supplied ice, were gradu-

Woodfonl Cotiiity History

alK' disposing of their various businesses,
preferring to return to farming.

In 1910, William Ryan, editor of the
Metamora Herald, stated that the toun
had prospered e\en though it was con-
sidered a slow town in the days of the
county seat. The town now had two grain
ele\ators (J. R. Wagner and H. J. Wykle),
two department stores, (J. W. Miller and
Lsch's), t\\'0 hardware stores, (Bride Bros,
and Frank Giehl, Jr.) one general store,
(C. Rohman and Sons), two grocery stores,
(Fred Grob and L. B. Meister's with bak-
ery) two implement houses, (Belsly and
Belsly and Waldschmidt Bros.), three auto
dealers, (the two implement houses and
J. G. Snyder), two physicians, (Dr. J. I.
Knoblauch and Dr. C. A. Heinzmann), Dr.
Harvey, dentist, a big lumber yard, ( Jacob
Schrepfer), a good bank, (Snyder Bros.),
the best harness shop in the country, ( Wm.
Broennle and Emil Grob), a number one
meat market, (Theena's) two drugstores.
(Susan K. Wagner and A. H. Wilson), a
feed mill, ( Jacob Regele ) , a millinery store,
two blacksmith shops, (W. T. Bolle and
Jos. Villiger), some of the best building
contractors in the country, (Wm. and Ed.
C. Briggs, Rudy Heintzmann, Joe Gulder),
The Metamora Creamery (a cooperative
started in 1902 and the only one in the
count\' now still operating successfulh- ). a
furniture store, a new ice compan\-, the
best newspaper in the county and a dozen
other lines of business.

In 1912, a new surge in building began
with the erection of a large furniture store
on East Partridge Street, replacing an old
residence and store that were there from
the very early days of Metamora. H. J.
\^'aldschmidt, who had purchased Jacejuat's
business a iew years before, \\'as anxious
to mo\'e in his pianos and furniture, which
were located in two difterent stores. But
the businessmen held him oft', according to
Alvin Willman, who \\'as working for
Waldschmidt at the time. They wanted to
hold a public dance in the new building.
The dance and oyster supper was a huge
success, but it was the last time a celebra-
tion of this type was held.

Mctiiiiioia Ton iisliip

Raxniond Schneider purchased t\\v lot
next door and anotlier building wi'ut up.
The Midget Tlieatre was located in tlie
rear of the newestablisliinent, and Schneid-
er's barbershop oc'cupied the front of the
building. Bowling alle\s were installed in
the basement.

Ray Schneider installed a handsome
new electric piano, with llute and mando-
lin attachments for use in the Midget
Theatre.

The following year. 1914, W illiam Ryan,
publisher of the Herald, and William
Hroennle, harness maker, purchased their
respecti\e properties from the Theena
estate. The Herald building was moved
onto W. K. Briggs" lots, west of the depot,
and was used for an undertaking shop.
Briggs had taken over the business of his
late father, F. F. Briggs. While the Herald
building was being mo\ed, the paper was
printed as usual. The business "'on wheels"
was no more hectic than ain other bus\'
week, R\'an said.

Broennle moxed his store to the rear of
his lot and operated there until his new-
building was completed.

A flurr\- of business transfers also oc-
curred around this time. L. B. Meister sold
his grocery and baker\ business to his suc-
cessful baker and employees, Mr. and Mrs.
Carl Hindson and Florence Holzinger. The
ice cream and confectionary business had
been a f.uorite spot for 15 yc^ars under
Meister and continued nnint(>rruptcHl under
the new owners imtil 1921 when the\ sold
it to Otto Giehl.

In 1914 Snyder Bros, purchased the
Farmer's Bank, in business for two years,
and consolidated the two banks.

Joseph Waldschmidt & Co. sold the
implement and automobile business to
Bernard \'olz and Ben Schierer and pur-
chascxl the grain elexator under the new
partnership. Waldschmidt and Robert
Schneider. The coal business became
^^'ykle and Wilson (Page Wilson). \'olz
dissolved his partnership with F. L. Hein-
inger, who joined Henry Waldschmidt of
Benson, a few months later, and erected
the Metamora Garage.

.•\n old blacksmith shop had stood on
this corner for many Ncars, and had be-
come an exesore. Word had gotten out
that the old shop was about to be rented
to a blacksmith again. One morning, the
local citizc>ns were surprised to fiiid that
the old building had been torn down dur-
ing the night and nothing remained but a
pile of ancient lumber.

The following week, W'aldsehiiiidt pm -
chased the lots from Bernard (hciser, and
the Metamora Garage has been in business
there since. L. B. Cries became Heininger's
partner in 192.3. When Heininger died the
follow ing \-ear, (iries became sole owner of
tile business, leasing the garage until 1929,
w hen lie pmchasc>d the building.

The Wagner Nh)tor Co. became the
Wagner-Thompson Motor Co., with the
partnership of F. W. Wagner and J. J.
Thompson, formerly, the principal of Meta-
mora Township High School. The\- pur-
chased the garage originall\- built b\- ]. C.
Snvder and now managed by W. T. Bolle.
Bolle and Thompson worked on the im-
pr()\ement of a belt roller for the new
Fordson tractor, secured a patent, and
manufactured them here for a feN\- \ears.

In 1917. S. E. Willman and his scm,
AKin, formed a partnership and purchased
the drugstore business from the late Luther
Kessler. who had combined the businesses
of Susan K. \A'agner and .-\. H. Wilson dur-
ing the year he was here. Ahin Willman
has managed the business to the present
da>-.

Conrad ixohman, a grocer in business
here and in Roanoke during the ISTO's, re-
tired after sixty-fi\c years in this locality.

J. W, Theena purchased the late Frank
Giehl Jr. hardware store after a few years
of tra\elling around the country, following
the sale of Theena's Meat Market.

The automobile age affected the town in
another way. Lack of decent roads in the
village caused some concern amongst the
more enterprising local citizens, particu-
larK- around the \illage sc|uare, the center
of business in town. A big booster cam-
paign was started which ended in a rally
in the Opc>ra House. T\pical of the times

100

the rally included speeches, songs, and a
number of selections by the local band.
The referendum carried by a 3 to 1 \()te
in the following day's election.

A celebration opening the new streets
around the square was held on July 24.
1915. The bars closing off the streets were
let down and an impromptu parade of
about 40 cars droxe around the stjuare.
The celebration included speeches b\
prominent citizens and a free motion pic-
ture in the park. Intermittent showers
threatened to dampen the spirits but a sur-
prisingly large number of people stayed for
the whole affair which also included a
dance in the Midget Theatre and a band
concert in the e\ening.

The cost of the pa\ing was $15,257.60
shared equally by the Milage and the
businesses facing the square. Work was
done by A. D. Thompson of Peoria.

The following year, the \illage board
( J. C. Snyder, Pres. ) offered to appropriate

Woodford County Histoni

funds for additional street paving if any
citizen desired it, but e\idently there were
no takers. Two blocks of brick paving were
installed from the northeast corner of the
\'illage Scjuare to the train tracks (East
Partridge Street) in 1922 at a cost of $11,-
700.76."

In 1921, the town pump was removed
from the square and a bubbling fountain
was installed. Funds were raised for the
purpose b\- the Metamora Home Econom-
ics Club with the help of the American
Legion.

The final break with the past came with
the remo\al of the fence around the park
in 192.3. The old fence, erected in 1887,
had been used for generations as a hitch
rack to accommodate farmers who still
used a horse to come into town. A section
of rack made of iron pipe sunk in concrete
was placed on each of the four sides of the
square.

The Village Board also found itself

Mttamora i'ublic Park as it appeared in 1900.

Metutnorci Tounship

homeless in 1923. Tlic stati' had completed
its transactions to take over the courthouse
and make it a museum. The board had
made its headcjuarters in tlie courthouse
for a cjuarter of a century. The west room
of F. W. W'agner's building was rented as
an office. (The old J. B. Knoblauch Bldg.).

On July 22, 1930 a special bond referen-
dum was appro\ed for the erection of a
Village Hall and fire ecjuipment storage
rooms. It uas built 1)\' Schrepfer and
Martin.

The twenties witnessed more changes on
the btisiness scene. Houte No. 116 was
laid through town on the south side of
the park and a short time later No. 89
going north was built. The Prohibition law
caused saloons to con\ert to soft drink and
ice cream parlors. The Businessmen's Club
reactivated in 1921. but the Lyceum pro-
gram was promoted b\' the senior high
school class. The Midget Theatre became
a comnmnit\' theatre on a cooperative
plan. Radio now had the citizens agog.
One Sunday e\ening, in 1923, patrons of
the community theatre were treated to a
radio program in comiection with the show
when Joe W'aldschmidt connected his out-
fit to the theatre. Concert numbers were
heard distinctly throughout the hall dur-
ing the show.

Art Garber opened an electric and radio
shop next to the bank. E. E. Springer was
the electrician and radio repairman with
Garber.

The grain ele\ators became one again
when J. K. Wagner ga\ e up the business in
1920 and it was purchased by Waldschmidt
and Schneider.

Emil (irob, now owner ot the harness
shop and cream separator business, pur-
chased Raymond Schneider's business
building for his expanded enterprises.

E. \y. Kiiolijauili retired as cashier at
the l)aiik after 23 \ears under three owners.
He had also been a part of several coopera-
tive N'entiires in town.

Hindson auain opened a bakery in 1923
and remained in business imtil 1948.

The .Metamora Telephone Company
moved its e([uipm("nt into a combined of-

101

fice and residence, especially built for tlie
purpose. The two position switchboard
was mo\ed into the front office with the
electrical and otlier efjuipmeiit located in
the basement.

In 1924, the Dickinson Canning Com-
pany abandoned its idea to locate in Meta-
mora and established a plant in Morton.
The canning company had made sexeral
attempts to locate a deep well for water
but were unable to find a \ein of sufficient
(juantity. Several local citizens subscribed
to seeking a well, reluctant to give up the
idea of a facton.- in Metamora.

In Febniar\' 1925, the Metamora Can-
ning Co. was organized with authorized
capital of SIOO.OOO. .About forty local stock-
holders pledged $65,000 with the balance
provided by the Peoria Canning Co. S. M.
Sn\der of the Metamora State Bank, was a
member of the board of directors. The site
for the plant was selected for its access to
the railroad, closeness to the center of town
and the low cost of extending the water
mains. A \acant lot was purchased from
Sam Willman for $800.

The \illage also enjoyed other benefits
from the new plant. Through arrangements
between the Metamora Canning Co.,
Waldschmidt and Schneider, and the Cen-
tral Illinois Light Company, a new line
carrying a three phase current was ex-
tended to Metamora from Eureka. The
new line insured adequate power for the
factory, long desired ser\ice for the grain
elevator and stabilized voltage for the vil-
lage. Electric service for the village had
been of poor (juality during the previous
years; no doubt, caused bv- the increase in
consumer usage.

Schrepfer 6f Martin and W. T. Bolle
were the contractors for the new factorv'.
By summer, the factory was in full swing
canning peas in June and tomatoes in
-Vugust. Fiftv to seventv-fivf men volun-
teered to run the night shift that first vear.

The perseverance of the busine.ssnien in
establishing an industr\- here proved to be
wise. The canning factorv' was taken over
bv Hallmark in 1947 and became the Met-
amora W oodvvorking plant.

102

In rexiewing tlir liistory of the town, it
became e\ident that the men who had the
faitli to establish a business here, were the
same men who ser\ ed on the village board,
school boards, and in general, contributed
to the impro\enient of the village when-
ever they were needed.

The livery stable on Menard Street was
a busy place in those days. It was an im-
portant part of the town's busy activities,
doing hauling for the merchants from the
C. & A. depot and renting out buggies
and hacks to townspeople and the salesmen
going from town to town. Names like Dan
Wagner, Gillan, John Eckstein, Wm. T.
Rohman, and Roy Eichorn appeared in the
Mefamora Herald as owners and proprie-
tors of the Metamora Li\er>' Stable.

Likewise about a half block away up the
alley stood the Metamora Ice House. Ice
making was in full swing during January
and ice was cut, hauled and placed in the
ice house between layers of sawdust.

Close by was the town calaboose where
vagrants were housed for the night. This
stood direcdy back of the courthouse.
Tramps were a part of the winter scene
in every small town and they were well
known to the cit\- policemen.

Horseshoe courts were spaced around
the square when men spent many leisure
hours pitching horseshoes. Two lively mil-
liner>- shops flourished at this period — Mrs.
Sheridan's and Mrs. West's. Shetterly's Mil-
liner\' had gi\en \\'a\' to a grocery owned
by Fred C. Grob.

Service stations were coming into their
own with the automobile a part of modern
living. George Rohman, A. \'. Rohman and
Rertram Waldschmidt ran the major serv-
ice stations — and all the garages sold
gasoline. Villiger's Shoe Shop was sold to
Hilton Parker who operated it until he
Tuoved to the brick building next to the
courthouse.

One war came and was oxer, a second
one followed and with this a whole new
world emerged. This had its effect on
Metamora as well, and found it facing a
speeded up way of living and doing busi-
ness. Two main high\\ays came through

Woodford County History

the town. No. 116 and No. 89, and there
was less and less train travel. Radio and
TV came into being and with it a totalK-
new concept of life. Saloons became tav-
erns, undertakers were now morticians,
groceries were supermarkets, and there
were no more general stores. Insurance
agencies multiplied, as did garages and
service stations. Reauty shops came into
prominence. Many businesses moved away
from the square, and industry came to
Metamora.

From the years of the thirties to the pres-
ent year of the Illinois Sesquicentennial
many changes came to Metamora. Gone
from the park are the hitching racks, water-
ing tanks for the horses and the town
pumps. Gone, too, is the old water tower,
replaced by a shiny new one holding
200,000 gallons of water, pumped in from
a well in Robinswood Addition, west of
town. In the shadow of the new tower is
the pumping and softening plant on Dav-
enport Street, and just around the corner
on Walnut Street, is the fire station.

If you were to walk around the park
today, starting at the northwest corner on
Partridge Street, you would find Isch's Gift
and Thrift Shop operated by descendants
of John Abersol, who started the business
here about 1S73; the K.C. Hall, Harold
Roth's Rarber Shop, Springer's Hardware,
Rrodt's Cleaning Service, the Laundramat
opened by William Nauman; the Lincoln
Memorial Courthouse, a vacant building
waiting for some new business to occupy
it, Alvin Willman's drug store (Mr. Will-
man just completed 50 continuous years in
business!), and the enlarged and modern-
ized Metamora National Rank, under the
ownership of Ray J. Schertz.

Turning south on Davenport Street,
across from the bank, is the basement
building housing the American Legion
Post No. 89, then the IlHnois Prairie Dis-
trict Library, Generose Scheirer's insurance
office, Kenny Crandell's barber shop, Rock-
ler's Real Estate and Insurance office, Or-
ville Schertz's Furniture and Appliances
store, the Lincoln Tavern with Ron Cook
as proprietor, Hockenbury's Cafe, Fandel's

Metdiiioiii Tounship

\"arkt\ Store, tlic \"illag<> Hall ami the
Metamora post office.

Oil the .south .side of the park is Pelphr\ s
Deep Hock ser\ice station; on the site of
the well-known old Spiers House is the
office of Dr. H. \\ . Higgert. and ne.xt to it
you woidd find a supermarket of which
the proprietor is Dennis Suter. On the
corner is Boh Carlier's T\' store, and
across the street is Kneips Standard ser\ ice
station.

Completing our walk around the S(niare.
on the west side is the hrick building
owned by A. \'. Rohman and leased to
Cilco. The remainder of the block is oc-
cupied li\- the Nh'tamora (larage. a busi-
ness owned anil operated for man\ \ears
b\- the genial L. ii. ( "Busn " ) Cries; since
his death in 1963. tlie business has been
carried on by Mar\ in Smith. Joseph .Miller
and Joseph .\dams. One end of the build-
ing is used b\ the lietty Cirics School of
Dance.

Our stroll around the park has ended,
but looking up North .Menard Street we
can see in the first block the fine brick of-
fice of the Metamora Telephone Co. In the
first block of North Daxenport Street is
the office of Dr. C. R. Heinzmann. the
town's one and onl\- di'Utist. \\'ere we to
go farther east on Partridge Street, just
beyond the park area we would find the
newK -remodelled \"F\\' Hall, with the
Mctamoru Herald office next to it. Across
the street is Masons' Funeral Home.

.As is usual, businesses ha\e located
along the highways, .\pproaching Meta-
mora on Route 116 from the east we pass
Llo\d Sehupp's Texaco ser\ice station and
tlie Flamingo Tavern, run by Doug Bach-
man; next to the railroad track is Schrepfer
and Martin's lumber yard, from which one
can see, a block awa\ . the big cle\ators
and drying e(}uipnient ol the Metamora
Grain Company owned by John ( \V\\\ )
Schumacher.

Passing the southwest comer of the park.
we find The Toggery, a clothing store
owned b\' Mr. and Mrs. Lambert Meismer,
and a Phillips station operated by William
Perha\'. At the west side of town is Jim

103

B\rum's Ciulf Station, back of which is the
new Cx)lonial Laundramat. .A large, new
Super-\'alu store and drug store, owned by
the Schierer brothers, Har\e\, lid and
Jolm. and Ben Schierer's dairy and its out-
let store are both along the highwa\'. Just
be\ond the corporation limits, across from
the ro()tl)eer stand and swimming pool, are
located Jim DeRolt's Supjily Store and
Trotter and Hodel's (kuage. Out a bit
farther on No. 116 are F'hnn's Drainage
Products phnit and Carl Fauber's Cireen-
house. Se\eral miles from town but playing
an important part in our ioe;d economy are
Lloyd Schumachers (!he\roIet Garage and
Fred Me('ulloughs Disposal Ser\ ice.

Back in town, in the first block of Route
S9 is the Castle Taxerii operated by LeRoy
Meismer; Don and \\ ilia Piiillips" restau-
rant and Hans Miller's garage; the latter
adjoins the propert\' on which stands (he
brick building that ser\ed as the county
jail when Metamora was the seat of gov-
ernment for Woodford (bounty; it is now
the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jo.scph
Theena.

Near the outskirts of town are the Meta-
mora W oodworking Co., makers of Hall-
mark greeting card display racks; McBride
and ShofF, a machine shop; Metamora Im-
plement Conipan\- owned b\' Jolm (Jack)
Garber ;ind Colman Alig, dealers in farm
machiner\ ; the Metamora .Abattoir, oper-
ated by Harold Zobrist, who is akso an
auctioneer, and Metamora Inchistries, Inc.,
a fabrication plant. Near the (Corporation
limits is the Metamora Township Hall.

Some present-day services do not require
regular office space and are th(>refore con-
ducted from the operator's place of resi-
dence. In this category would come the
truckers. Flmer Dubois. Frank Frederick.s,
C. H. Schertz and Sons, Leo A. lU'ising and
Willard Ahrens; the insurance agents, John
V^ Reeb, Er\ in Jauch, Joe Powell, Lee
Bachman and Roy Larson; the men who
dri\(' the bulk gas trucks, Ray Barber,
Harold Kiesewetter and Robert CJrob; and
the contractors, Gilbert Alig, Richard Nau-
man, and lona B. Schaidlc and Sons. And
we have William E. Krumhol/. who docs

104

landscaping; Walter S. Dyar, who for
many years has been producing hvbrid
seed corn, so important to this area; Morris
E. Pelz, who ol)ligingly opens up our
choked sewers and drains for us; C. J.
Schneider, a real estate agent, the Leo Mil-
lers, who ha\'e our onh motel; Tom Greb-
ner, our capable painter; and Robert El-
bert, who sharpens tools.

An important service of these modem
days is that offered by the beauticians.
Metamora must have lovely ladies, for they
support nine beauty shops! The owners
( and operators ) are the Mesdames Wanda
Goldsmith, Leona McClary, Janice Mc-
Daniels, Ethel Noll, Emily Schrock, Helen
Steider, Marjorie Van de Veer and Edith
Volz, and Mr. Walter Schaidle.

Without the farmers of the area, our
town could not have existed. For the past
centurv they have been the backbone of
die community, many of them ser\'ing on
various committees and school boards, and
helping in other ways in the growth of our
social and civic life.

Some forty or more years ago, a Meta-
mora lady with great foresight predicted
that the then wide-open farm land and
timber areas lying between our village
and its big neighbor, Peoria, would some
day all be occupied by homes and busi-
nesses; it was a preposterous idea at the
time, but if that same prediction were
made today, in 196S, someone would be
sure to add "and in the very near future!"
To the readers of today, it may seem
that we have gone into great detail in de-
scribing our to\\'n. We only hope that we
have presented a clear picture for the
reader of fifty or more years hence, when
our "modern" way of life will be as old-
fashioned as Grandma's hoop skirt!

The businessmen you may remember:

The bakers ;
L. B. Meister
C. H. Hindson
Bernard Bursott

The decorators :

J. D. Griggs
Max Reichhuber
Joe Schertz
Henry Parker
Charles Rich
Clifford Fehr

The tarrni lufpers:
.Tolin Knoblauch
.John Zimmerman
Henry Wagner
.Toe Marchand
Joe Htickelmaier
Joe and William Noe
"Pap" Eckstein
Hill Myers
Joe Elbert
Max Lewis
Otto Weppler

John Theobald
Carl Villiger
William Nauman
Harry Maus
Ray Cries
Hen Morris

The cobhter.t :
Max Gasse
John Nauman
Henry Theobald
Carl villiger
Hilton Parker

The harhers :
Jim Frantz
Milton Goodyear
Charles Roseberry
Elmer Musselman
Jerry Stockham
Albert Kranz

The imf^lement dealers:
Get'/, and Goutsche
-J. H. Reeder
John, Peter and Rali>h

B el sly
L. J. Barclay
Ezra Schlipf

The funeral direetors :

F. F. Briggs
William Briggs
Henry Heininger
Ray Miller
Roy Teman
Ralph Lightle
Alex Mason
Carroll Volz

The doctors and dentists
Dr. James S. Whitmire
Dr. A. M. Amarose
Dr. Z. H. Whitmire
Dr. Moore
Dr. W. A- Mansfield
Dr. .T. I. Knoblauch
Dr. S. W. Lakin
Dr. J. P. Harvey

The contractors :

John Orth
Frank Schmitt
Rudy Heintzman
Briggs Bros.
W. T. Belle

Woodford County History

Alex Wagner

Mrs. Frank Nauman

Clarence and Frances

Rohman
Irene' s

Josie Walils.hmidt
Joe Fairbanks
Jim Knight

Bill, Otmer and Eleanor

Nauman
Everett Seeber

Bursott's Lunch Room

Prank Goldsmith

Welte's Friendly Spot

Phillip's Lunch Box

Pierre's

Maggie's

Sasso's

Boken's

The restaurant maiuttjers
Mayme Hodges
Mrs. Emma Wagner
Zundels
Zimmermans
James Hall's Carpenter

House

The viereha7it.s :

John Abersol

H. Jacquot

Peter J. Wiltz

Cyrus Niles

H. Conrard

George Noirot

Herman J. Pelz

John A. Isch

Conrad Rohman and .Son

Luther Kessler

Charles Kiey

Andrew Wiltz

Josepn Scholl

William Kuhl

Xavier Knoblauch

Oscar Painter

Susan K. Wagner

Clem Ray

Bride Bros.

Albert Suter

Sam Willman

Joseph Theena

William C. Hockenbury

C. F. Easely

Frank Giehl

John W. Miller

John F. Isch

F. C. Grob

C. H. Hindson

L. B. Meister

J. O. Malone

Jerry Tippy

C. A. Stauffer

Harrj' Waldschmidt

O. F,' Giehl

Joe Heintzman
Donald Ciilliatt
Ed Bachman
A, W. Garber
Pat MacaUvee
Rudy Garber
Chris Wiedman
Ernest Harroun
Rav Mark

PARK BOARD

To fulfill a need for better recreation
and outdoor education, an election to form
a park district and to elect a fi\e-man board
was held Jul>' 29, 1967. On Aug. 1, 1967,
after necessary legal requirements had
been completed, the district and board
were officiali\ formed. Members of the
board are: Willard Bockler, Nelson Tate,
Jr., Kenneth Crandall Jolm Rauli. and
Robert Schertz.

McUniiora Township

TOWN OFFICIALS

Mayor — Don P. Smith

Clerk — Ilarrs' F. Johnson

Board Mcnibcis — M.uxiii Kc\s, \lar\in
Smith, Francis Kerrigan, Ronald Krolak,
Roliert DcPaiiw. Robert Ilarhers. Jr.

105

TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS

Supervisor — Leland Klein
Clerk — Kenneth L. STiiitii
Assessor — Robert Deatlu'rage
Auditors — Walter Shea, Leonard

Schierer, Daniel Kruinholz, Sr.

Hit;h\vay Commissioner — Chester

Sehertz

Opened in 1868, the Woodford Count) .\lnis House liouscd
county until recent years.

rdv elder liti/ens ol tlie

Miiionk Township

Haeby D. Smith and Robert W. Webster

This tounsliip is a full Congressional toicn,
and is designated as Town 28 North, Range
2 East of the Third Principal Meridian. It
is situated in the extreme northeastern cor-
ner of Woodford County and is hounded
as follows: On the north by La Salle
County; on the east by Livingston County:
on the south by Panola Township and on
the west by Clayton Township.

The land is quite level, there being
scarcely enough fall to allow an effectual
drainage: and it was at first .supposed that
much of the township was too flat for till-
able land, but by ainple ditching, this has
proved to be of the very best quality. It
produces immense crops of corn, oats and
other grain. A large amonnt of pork and
some cattle are raised. Tlw township is en-
tirely devoid of timber and running streams
of water.

The settlement of Minonk dates back to
the time the Illinois Central Railroad was
built tiirough this section of Illinois. It was
completed in 1854 and Samuel Work came
here to act as station agent. He held this
job 15 years.

Another interesting item about the
I.C.R.R. was one condition of its charter
which stipulated that alternate sections of
land for a distance of six miles on each
side of the line were to be donated to the
railroad company to aid in its construction,
so at one time one-half of Minonk Town-
ship belonged to the railroad company.

Tlie location of the town was secured
by David A. Neal of Salem, Massachusetts.

The italicized material in the Minonk history is
taken from LeBaron's Pd.st ciml Present tli.slonj of
Woodfdiil County, dated 1S78.

A plat of the village, 786 feet wide on each
.side of the I.C.R.R. and extending along it
for 3,690 feet, was recorded in the office
of the Recorder of Woodford County Nov.
7, 1854. This plat was laid out and surveyed
by Peter Folsom, deputy surveyor of Wood-
ford County from Section 7 of the toicn-
•ship, for Mr. Neal, owner of the section.

As soon as it became known that a town
was established accessions began being
made at once. A boarding house for the
railroad men was the first building. Charles
Dobson, from near Pattonsburg built the
first home and mo\'ed in August, 1854. That
fall, in partnership with Americus Pogue,
he opened a general store. A post office was
soon established with Mr. Dobson as post-
master.

The C. W. Goodrich famil>' came from
New York state, and built the second home.
Goodrich opened a grain and lumber busi-
ness with a James Parker as his partner.

The Chicago, Pekin and
Southwestern Railroad

The Chicago, Pekin and Southwestern
Railroad was completed in 1872 and crossed
the I.C.R.R. here. The city and township
had nuich to do with this by securing its
location through this part of the county. It
was on a promise of assistance of $50,000
voted b\- the township January 16, 1869,
that the company consented to run the road
through its limits.

While there may be some doubt whether
a .second railroad has materially added to
the interests of the city, but feu- will dis-
pute that the country has been greatly
benefited thereby. One record says, "Much

106

Minoiik Tounsliijt

has been fidicd lo tlir fdniiiiiij. (011111111111111
ill llic iraij of fici<j.lils. as. hi/ the lueans
of this line, there has been opened a dircet
route to Chieaa.0. and also, eompetition has
doubtless redueed freight rates not a little."
TI1C Goodrich & Parker firm hoiiglit iniicli
of their lumber in Cliiea^o due to tlie chreit
connection. All strain was also sacked for
shijipinii.

Illinois Central Middle Division

The Middle Di\ isiou branch of the Illi-
nois Central Railroad was completed in
1873 aTid extends irom Minonk east to the
main line at Kankakee. In Minonk this line
was known as the P. C Eich because, for
50 \-ears. he was tlu' engineer on the pas-
senger train which made two round trips
daiK'. .At that time there were 12 passenger
trains in and out oi Miuoiik daiK on the
three railroads besides man\ . main freight
trains.

Jouadiau Macey came from Indiana to
operate a hotel, first called the \\'ebber
House. This was later replaced b\' a fine
three-story brick building, with running
water and all modern improx emenls; con-
sidered the best hotel Iti Woodford County.
This was called the Hotel Woodford.

As there is a first in e\ er\thing in e\ery
such new village, so it was here, and the
first death is recorded as ha\ing been that
of I. a Favette Ta\l<)r w ho moxed here with
his folks in the spring of 1S56 ( diey were
the third family). This young man was at-
tending a meeting and in stepping suddenly
from a seat upon which hv had been stand-
ing, he received an hilernal injur}' from
which he soon died.

H. A. Christians, a native of Ck-rmany,
opened the first blacksmith shop in 1856.
His daughter Clara's birth was the first to
be recorded. The first physician was Isaac
Garrison; he came in 1856. As the popula-
tion increased, there was a demand for
schools and chinch services. In the winter
of 1856-57 the first school was established
with Frances Reeder as teacher. The school
treasurer's book shows that on April 6,
1857 as the teacher, she was paid $79 for
four mouths' serx'ice.

107

A Presbyterian e\angclist, He\ , Mr. Frost.
held the first religious ser\ices. These meet-
ings continued for a while and were held
in die hotel building in 1856. .\t that time
little diought was given to di'uomination.
The first wedding was that of George W.
Simpkins and Mary Sutton. In the summer
of 1856, the first Sunday School was organ-
ized by A. II. Danforth and meetings were
held in the depot. A Fred Melhorn opened
up the first meat market, and the first bank
was opened in 1869 by A. J. Baker. Three
years later this was purchased by a group
of men and operated under the name of
Jenkins, Dunn and Compain-. In 1895 it
was sold to C. R. Danforth & Company.
Mr. Danforth sen'ed the community in the
banking business for o\cr 40 years. In the
earh growth and development of Minonk
no incidents of a startling character are
recorded. In fact down through the >ears
Minonk has been noted as a practical and
matter-of-fact town.

By 1857, the population of the township
had so increased it was thought advisable
to organize as a separate precinct, so after
an order was obtained from the board of
supervisors an election was held April 7th
and the poll was 22. Nearly every man got
an office and some more than one! After a
few years the people realized the need of
of manv things— roads, sidewalks and ])ul)-
lic improvements of various kinds — so a
meeting was cal!i>d which resulted in hav-
ing the town incorporated under the Gen-
eral Act of the State, and an election for
five trustees was held September 30, 1864.
It was also voted that all of Section 7 be
embraced in the corporate limits of the
town and a plat was so made and recorded.

The town existed and flourislieil under
this five-trustee organization lor three vcars
when a move was made to obtain a city
charter. This was obtained March 7, 1867
and the first election was hi-ld the follow-
ing October 7th. The charter div ided the
city into four wards.

The first trustees, who operated three
years, were Reuben P. Hell, .\. Cholwt-ll,
C. W. Goodrich, Henry C. Dent and \I. A.
Gushing. The first officers under the city

108

charter included the first mayor, John
Stoner, one alderman from each ward and
a clerk. This organization continued for fi\e
years when the style of government was
again changed with an election held April
15, 1873. Elected were a mayor, attorney,
treasurer and clerk besides four aldermen.

Thomas Sutton. Dr. E. A. Wilcox, Dr.
Stonier and Daniel Hollenbeck are others
mentioned frequently in early history.

The first school house, with John Peck
as teacher, was erected in 1857. It was a
frame building 30x30 and cost $300. A
frame building was built on the east side
in 1864 and in 1901 the cornerstone was
laid there for the brick high school building
which cost $32,000. The first class to gradu-
ate was in 1886; F. T. Wilcox, Lela Simp-
son, Daisy Christians and Carrie Vance
were the graduates. A frame building was
erected on the west side, to be replaced
in 1912 by the grade school brick liuilding.

Minonk has always been proud of her
churches. In the early days church organi-
zations preceded church buildings. The
pioneers were the Presbyterian in 1856;
Methodist in 1857; Baptist in 1858; St. Paul's
Lutheran in 186S; and Immanuel Lutheran
in 1916. None of these groups were long in
getting a building and as time passed so
did these early structures. With changing,
remodeling, re-building each now has a
church of which to be proud. In the earh'
days, there was a German Baptist church,
but in 1912 this merged into the First
Baptist. Also there was a Negro church on
the west side, but no data is gi\'en on it.
The parishioners of St. Patrick's Church, in
the early days, held services in a private
home e\'ery two weeks. A Father Keenan
was in charge and their first church was on
the west side. The present site was pur-
chased in 1880.

Minonk has always had its full share of
clubs and lodges, going as far back as
1857 when the Masonic lodge was char-
tered.

A.F.^A.M. Rob Morris Lodge No. 247,
of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with
]. B. Garrison as Worshipful Master, and
Samuel C. Carithers and Richard Chcno-

Woodford County History

with as Warderu; teas authorized by the
Grand Lodge, October 7, 1857. This is,
co]nparatively, one of the "ancient" lodges
of the state, as the number of lodges in the
state at present, is nearly 800. It was named
after the venerable "Poet Mason" Robert
Morris of La Grange, Kentucky, who has
made his namesake many pleasant visits,
and front whom it has received a number
of valuable tokens of friendship and regard.
The present membership is about 60. . . .
The regular meetings are on the first and
third Wednesday evening of each month.
LO.O.F. A lodge of this order was estab-
lished, at this place, October 28, 1868 and
is known as Minonk Lodge, No. 377. Its
first principal officers and charter members
were: S.W.Allen, John Morris. John Stoner,
John Gmelich and S. W. Barger. This in-
stitution, though comparatively young, has
increased in numbers quite rapidly: and
today, numbers about 70 members. . . .
Tlie meetings are held on Tuesday eve-
nings of each week.

Newspapers

In 1874, the Minonk Blade, was estab-
lished by Irving Carrier as an independent
paper; it was sold to H. C. Hedge in 1876
and he made it a staunch Republican paper
called the Register. This paper changed
ownership a time or two until C. R. Denson
bought it in 1904 and changed the name
to the Minonk Dispatch. The Minonk News
was established in 1878 by S. C. Bruce.
It changed hands several times until C. R.
Denson bought it in 1913 and consolidated
it with the Dispatch, calling it the Minonk
New.'i-Dispatch, which is still being pub-
lished by Denson Brothers at this time
(1967).

Woodford Station

The Village of Woodford was laid out for
the proprietor, Jolin Warren, in 1874, and
a switch established and a station house
built the following year. Jacob M. Holder
was appointed agent. There are about a
score of buildings there at one time. On the
location of the station Henry Patton opened
a store, and the government authorized a

Minoiik Tonusliiji

post office, of uliicli Mr. Pulton uus (//)-
pointed postmaster. He afteniard sold out
to Samuel Kirk, ulio also succeeded Patton
as the ))ostma.'<tcr.

The place also contained a blacksmith
shop which was run by George French,
and a grain ele\ator operated by J. Forney.

Brick Yards

The Eagle brick works were established
April 1, 1SS9, by Joseph Stonier and
Thomas \\'ill\-. The\- emplo\ed 16 men,
and made 1.5(K).()()() briek tiie first \ear.
The ownership of this firm changed hands
se\eral times and in 1S96 was knowni as
the I'ickard and (^lark briek >ard.

ijic first brick building w-as erected in
Minonk in 187S b\' Louie Lichtenstein. It
was a handsome three-story building con-
taining an "opera house" abo\ e the store
rooms below. Sometime around 1900 the
third story of the opera hous(> was remo\c'd.
This building is still standing (1967) and
is good for man\- \ears yet to come.

Chicago & Minonk Coal & Tile Works

The Minonk Coal Companx was incor-
porated in 1869 with Dr. Sauuiel Ewers
as president and manager. The stock was
fixed at S6.000 at $25 per share. Coal was
found at a depth of 314 feet, the \ein being
four feet tliick. The (|ualit\ was poor and
it was not thought ad\ isablc to work it, so
the stock was sold and the company reor-
ganized. The new companx found a second
vein of coal from two and a half to three
feet in thickness at a depth of 553 feet.

The compan\' found itself unable to jjro-
ceed with the work, so a partnership was
fornu'd with Miner T. Ames of Chicago,
who furnished enough capital to proceed
with the work for a time. The old stock-
holders could not keep up with their share
of expenses, so they sold out to a company
known as the Chicago & Minonk Coal and
Coke Company, with Miner T. Ames as
president and general manager, in which
capacit\' he continued up to the time of his
death Januar\- 13, 1S9(). The heirs then took
charge of the property with Knowltoii L.
Ames as general manager. (1896). — .\ new

109

cable engine was placed in the mine and
afjout 300 men were emploNcd in mining
coal. The tile and brick works employed
100 nun, and turned out an immen.se
(juantitx' of \itrified drain tile. pa\ing brick,
sidewalk brick and hollow brick e\er\- \ear.
They had the largest car loading of drain
tile at that time an\where in the United
States.

At that tiini' Thomas A. Edison had
made two electric generators and, being a
good friend of Miner T. Ames, ga\e him
one of them so that he could have electric
lights at the mine. VMien the big store at
the mine was destroyed by fire a new
store was established up town at the corner
of Chestnut and Seventh streets. In order
that this store could have electric lights
instead of coal oil lamps, they strung a pair
of wires from the mine along Oak street to
the store. They fastened light bulbs to these
wires which ga\e Minonk the first electric-
all\- lighted street in the world.

This store was also destroyed b\- fire and,
in 1896, Mr. Ames erected a handsome de-
partment store of three rooms on the corner
of Si.xtli and Chestnut streets. The building
was 80.\100 feet and was handsomely fitted
up w ith oak counters and fixtures and con-
tained a $40,000 stock of merchandise and
a refrigerating machine for meats, butter,
eggs, etc.

In 1900, a second mine was sunk about
a mile north of the first one. The first mine
was closed and the second mine was oper-
ated about a \c>ar and then it closed. It was
idle until about 1904 when \V. C. Sutton
and J. S. Webber of Hutlaud leased it and
started operation. A short time later, Mr.
Webber moxcd out of town and Mr. Sutton
purchased the mine and operated it under
the name of the Minonk Coal Company.
.\bout 300 people were emplo\'ed and they
mined about 450 tons of coal a da\'. Mr.
Sutton operated the mine until 1951, when
it was closed for good. This ended the era
of coal mining in Minonk.

Priebe & Simater

Among other enterprises in Minonk th.it
paid out a large amount of mone\ e\ery

110

year to the farmers in tliis locality was the
produce firm of Priebe & Simater. Mr.
Priebe started tliis business in 1879. On
January 30, 1885, he and F. J. Simater
formed a partnership, and increased the
business. They afterward put up a large
building. In 1892, the\- put in a cold stor-
age plant, and built an addition to the
building. In 1895 they put in the ammonia
system of cold storage, and added another
room to their building. They were the
hea\iest shippers of poultry and eggs in the

Woodford County llistonj

State of Illinois, and had branch houses in
Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, selling poultr\'
all through the east and in Europe.

Minonk Electric and Power Co.

The Minonk Electric and Power Com-
pany was incorporated in February 1890,
with a capital stock of $15,000 and has
done a general lighting business. The plant
consisted of two boilers, two engines, two
incandescent dynamos, one municipal dy-
namo and one arc machine, with se\eral
miles of pole lines.

The Minonk Sewage plant completed late 1955 on three acre site north of town at cost of
$235,000.

Water Works System

The first water works system was in-
stalled in Minonk in 1887 at which time
Josiah Kerrick was mayor of the City.
There was a $10,000 bond issue voted to
pay for the system which was installed by
the Fairbanks-Morse Company at a cost of
$9,825.00. Wooden mains \\'ere laid to carr\-
the water, but the system proved defective
and it was not until September 2, 1889 that
it was paid for. Most of the wooden mains
were then replaced b\- iron mains.

Telephone Company

The first telephone switchboard was
placed in the rear of Harris and Ilershey's
drug store in the early nineties and Grace
Cushing was the first operator followed by
Josie Jacek who held that post for 15 years.

The business grew rapidly and before it
was one year old was sold to A. B. Kipp
and Company who mo\ ed it to their lum-
ber office. The company built the present
concrete building in 1911. The first tele-
phone was installed in the J. A. Simpson
Sr. grain office.

In December 1858 a group of men gath-
ered at the school house and organized the
first cemetery association. They purchased
the first five acres of the present cemetery
in 1859. The first burial was that of three
children of Rev. John M. Brown, whose
bodies previously had been buried in the
Presbyterian church yard.

St. Patrick's Cemetery uas purchased in
1886; prior to that time they had use of a
cemetery a few miles from Minonk.

The City Park was a cow pasture in the

Miiioiik Ton u.sliip

earl\' cla\s and was often rofened to as
Sangt'is l-'rog Pond, after Alderman Sang-
ster.

'I'lii' iHisinesses tliat pla\t-d a part in the
development, growth and adxancement ot
this little \illage throngh the \ears, were
nian\- and \aried. Tlie old mill, Minoiik
roiuid house, the old skating rink, the first
produee house of I'riehe and Simater, old
eooper shop, millinery stores, Augu.st
Shroeder's shoe shop, harness sliops, Piek-
ards wagon works, the .\linonk Eleetrie and
Power Co. and Minonk Telephone Co. were
a few of the old-time establishments.

The eoal, tile and hriek industries, the
baking industr\ , the sauerkraut faetorx',
thimble faetor)', O'Hourke Brothers eigar
factor\ , Martin OCounells monument
works. Minonk Bottling Works ("pop' fae-

111

tory), cement block factor\ , The Uncle
Tom Cand>- faetor\ . Sam Lei's Chinese
laundr\- and 11 (iranert & Son clothing fac-
tor\' wiMi' the outstanding industries. Some
of the firms mentioned luTe ha\e been
coxered in more detail in the fore part of
this article. Aside from farming these were
once the thri\ing businesses in the city and
township. Incidentally, Samuel W\'lie from
Vennont, assisted by his brother Joseph
opened up the first farm in the immediate
territor)' — Section 5.

Minonk, so it is presumed, reached its
peak in population in 1S96 when there
were about 3,000 people li\ing here. As the
industries closed and mo\ed awa>', so did
some of the people. The census of 1960
showed a population of about 2,000,

Tlu' Minonk su iinmiiii; pool wus toniplctcd in earl\' Jnnc, 1963,

The following manufacturing firms are
in business here in 1967,

In 19;34 Arthur Zi\ne\' came to Minonk
from the State of Wisconsin and started

the Minonk Dair\' Products (-'onipany. On
Ma\- 1, 1934 the plant began operations in
a wooden frame building, 32x55 feet, with
2,223 lbs, of milk the first da\', which was

112

made into American cheese. The demand
for the product was accepted li\' a read)'
market.

Business expanded rapidh- and by the
end of 1936 tlie plant was recei\ing .33,000
lbs. of milk per day. A need was seen for
plant and quality improvement and a care-
ful policy of "plowing back" all earnings
has been followed in the ensuing years.

In 1948-1949, the building expansion
plans were fulfilled. An addition 60x80.
two additional stories with a 40x60 boiler
room were built to house the new spray
drying equipment. Manufacture of Spray
Non-Fat Dry Milk Solids began April 1,
1949. Cheese has not been made com-
mercially since 1947. This is the oldest in-
dustrial firm in Minonk which has operated
continuously under the saine firm name
and by the same family.

The plant has a capacity of 300,000 lbs.
of fluid milk per day. Two million pounds
of 92-score butter is made each year. Four
million pounds of Non-Fat Dry Milk Solids
are sold each year to the baking and meat
industries. Thirt\' people are employed to
nm the plant and their wages run over
$200,000 per year. The amount paid out for
milk each year runs o\er $2,000,000.

The Minonk Baking Company

The Minonk Baking Company started
operation in 1960, mo\ing into the same
building which housed the former Sally
Ann Bakery, owned and operated by the
late J. E. Morganstern. This baking firm
employs about 40 people and produces
about 3,000,000 loaves of bread a year.
Their annual pa\roll amounts to about
$300,000.

The Martha-Maid Manufacturing
Company

The Martha-Maid Manufacturing Com-
pany came to Minonk in April 1964 and
moved into the building pre\iousl\' occu-
pied by the R. Granert & Son clothing
factory which had manufactured suits and
overcoats. They started operation on No-
vember 1, 1964 under the super\'ision of

Woodford County History

Jack Beegun who is general plant manager.
They emplo\' between 50 and 60 women
and, according to Mr. Beegun, man)- more
experienced sewers could be used. In a
year, this plant produces about 1,200,000
ladies lounge robes of all styles. The amount
of money paid out for all types of labor at
the plant is about $400,000 per year.

The city of Minonk enjoNS the unique
distinction of ha\ing the only post office
b>- that name in tlie world. A letter can be
mailed any place in the world and ad-
dressed, simply, Minonk, U.S.A. and the
letter will be delixered here without delay.

Now you may be wondering how Minonk
got that name and what it means. ( This is
from a paper, supposedly the Minonk
News-Dispatch.) When Mr. C. O. W'aldrip
was superintendent of the Minonk schools,
he received a letter from a group of Camp
Fire Girls in Selah, Washington stating that
they liked the name and wanted to give it
to their group.

They asked that a 5th grade girl send
them the meaning of the word Minonk.
The letter was gi\en to Miss Gertrude
Beale and she and her 5th grade pupils
found this — C. L. Corliss, associate editor
of the Illinois Central Magazine states that
the origin of the name is contained in Wil-
liam K. Ackerman's "Early Illinois Rail-
roads' published b\' the Fergus Publishing
Compan\' of Chicago in 1884. A copy of
this book is in the Chicago library.

Mr. Ackerman says, the name Minonk
appears on a map published b\' Thexenot.
It is of Indian origin. In Ojibway dialect it
means good place — Mino, good; onk, place.

Minonk was gi\en its name b>- Mr.
David Neal, chief engineer for the IlHnois
Central Railroad at the time of its construc-
tion through here. Before this it was shown
on the map as Marquette.

And so, we can \\'ell sa\' and believe,
truth is stranger than fiction and as one
author wrote, Irving's hero of Sleepy Hol-
low would not have been less surprised had
he taken his 20-year nap in the \icinit}' of
Minonk a century ago, because 20 years in
the early de\elopment of Minonk brought
many, many changes.

Montgomery Towiishij)

by
Mrs. Forrest Lemons, Mrs. Eli Hohvlin and Mrs. Gertritje GRESIr^I.^^•

Iv 1854 THE RESIDENTS of \\"oodford County
\()ted to organize the county into township
units. .\ eomnuttoe was appointed to define
the towTiship boundaries and on .-Kpril 16,
1855, the first Board of Supervisors was
elected. "Montgonien" was the name sug-
gested for the southwestern township. John
Wells, who had a sawmill in the area, gave
this suggestion. It is not known why he
wanted this name but it was accepted by
the count)' committee. The first Mont-
gomery supenisor was James Vance, who
is reported to ha\'e been the second to set-
tle in the towiiship (about 1830). Over the
years many good citizens have served as
supervisors — the present one is Mr. How-
ard Heinold.

Montgomer\ s first settlement was on the
Mackinaw River near what is now known
as the Mackinaw Delis area. In 18.35,
Joseph Gingerich and Peter Fami built a
sawmill there. 0\'er the next 40 years many
other industries located there — a gristmill,
a distillers, a coal mine, a brick \ard, a
brewery employing 50 men, v\hich was de-
stroyed by fire in 1859 at great financial
loss to the Fanii brothers who had heipcd
to finance the venture. Homes were built.
followed b\' a school house, a churcli. and
a boarding house or inn. A doctor had an
office there and a tailor plied his trade. In
1877 a S4,100 iron bridge was built across
the Nhickinaw here. This settlement was
named Faniis\ilie for Peter Fanii wlio
owned the land ( several spellings of this
name are found). .\ smaller settlement on
the other side of the river was called Slab-
town because the store there was made
from slabs trom tlie sawmill. (The name
Slabtown has come down through years
and refers to anv part of the general area. )

For several years, Faniisville was a bus-
tling community and boasted the first jwst
office in the township. There is little now
except an old plat on file at the courthouse,
meager accoimts in old Woodford County
histories, and the memories of elder citi-
zens to let us know that this was a flourish-
ing cx)mmunit\- in the mid-1800's.

With the coming of the Lake Erie and
Western R.R. in 1888, two new settlements
were started — Congenille and Goodfield.
These have ne\er grown to be big cities,
but ha\'e always been known as v illages of
thriftv', hard-working citizens. Both have
incorporated in the last few years. Chris
Hohulin is present mayor of Goodfield and
Harvey Schieber is mayor of Congerv ille.

Schools

The first school in eastern Montgomery
Township was started in 1832 at Slabtowni.
This school was located a short distance
east of the town. Miss Mar\- Brown being
the first teacher. The school (about 20x.3()
feet) was built of logs with a fireplace at
one end and a large oixMiing at the south
end with a board placed o\er it. On nice
days the board was l<t clown and on
stonn\- davs it was closed with a greased
paper over it. Tliere were no windows.
On \-ery cold days the school was closed.
Tliose attending the school were recjuired
to pay $1 per month.

Hie second larger school was started in
1840 about three miles east of the first
school and was known as the Sodom
School. Man\- of its pupils walked four
miles. The number of pupils increased o\ er
the years, so, about 1870, an old building
w as purchased and was moved with horses
about three miles north of Sodom Sclir>ol,

113

114

and a new school, named Hickory Point.
was started.

This school, being newer, was conducted
on a more modern basis. Literary and spell-
ing bees were common \\ itli large crowds
attending.

Another sciiool came into being after the
Village of Conger\'ille was begun. Part of
the land in each district was included in
this district. This, of course, caused the
other districts to become smaller. Not too
many years later a plan for the consoli-
dation of these four districts was consid-
ered. After an election the Congendlle
Consolidated School became a reality in
1908. This was the first consolidated school
in Woodford County and the second in the
State of Illinois. This school consisting of
four large classrooms, full basement, and
of brick construction was built at a cost of
$15,000. Eight grades were taught; later
two years of high school. This was con-
tinued until the fonnation of the Conger-
ville-Eureka-Goodfield Unit No. 140.

As the abo\e account shows, the settlers
of Montgomery Township began ^'ery early
to provide for the education of their chil-
dren. Small district schools ser\'ed for
many years and our residents still remem-
ber such school names as Gayley, Sodom,
Slabtown, Reed, and Science Hill.

A petition was circulated in 1894 in be-
half of a pulilic school at Goodfield. This
was successful and a liuilding was erected
the same year. By 1907 this building had
proved too small so it was mo\cd away
and a two-room brick building took its
place.

The Goodfield Community High School
District was formed in 1920. A brick build-
ing was erected at the west edge of town.

Following the trend toward larger school
districts, in 1948 all schools in Montgomen,'
Township became a part of the Conger-
ville-Eureka-Goodfield Unit District No.
140. Tlie Goodfield high school building
and tlie Congenille school building are
used for grades 1-6. Tlie old Goodfield
grade school building was sold and now is
a two-apartment dwelling. All high school

Woodford County Ilistonj

and junior high school pupils go b\' bus
to schools in E\ireka.

Churches

The church has been an important part
of the history of Montgomery Township.
Congerville has had three different denom-
inations, namely, Mennonite, Lutheran,
and Church of God. Today only the Men-
nonite, the oldest, remains.

Mennonite Church. This church has a very
interesting histoiy. The church was built
in 1854 at Oak Grove (then a town four
miles east of Congerville) by a congrega-
tion called the Christian church. Sendees
were held in this church at Oak Gro\'e
until about 1889, when the coining of the
Lake Erie Railroad by-passed Oak Grove.
The town of Carlock came into being and
it was decided to build a church there.
The church at Oak Gro\e was for sale and
Congenille bought it; then moxed it to
Congendlle where it still stands. At first
the building was used for communit\- pur-
poses as well as for worship. This did not
work too well and in 1899 the Mennonite
congregation bought the building and re-
modeled part of it. This building was used
continuoush' until 1963, when a new
church was built just a short distance east
of the old church, which today is being
used as the Mennonite Clothing Center for
Illinois and is stiJl in veiy good condition
after being used 114 years.

Lutheran Church. First church was built in
1893, largely through the efforts of Fred-
erick Siebert. This was a small congrega-
tion. The first church burned in 1912, then
a small church was erected, but after a
number of years the congregation dis-
banded and members united with Lutheran
churches in Danvers and Bloomington.

Baptisf Church. The first Baptist Church
in Montgomery Township was organized
in the house of James Vance in 1837. In
1890, a church was built in Goodfield. This
building was struck by lightning and
burned on September 7, 1917. The congre-
gation innnediateK- replaced this with a
fine new brick building uhich has been

Montgomery Ton nsliip

wcll ki'pt and wliicli (.■Diiliiiucs to he tlii'
honic of tlu- Baptist coniiiigatioii. H(\ .
Ray Smitli is tin- present minister.

AfMstoIic Christ id u Church. As early as
1857, a i^roup of the Apostolic Christian
faitli were holding meetings in homes, in
Klopfenstein's ham. or ont-of-doors, and
whenex'er possihle met with another group
at Dillon in Tazewell Connt\-. In 1S74 they
were ahle to erect a eliureh at Mackinaw
Dells wliere menihcrs and friends from the
Congerv ille commvmity and from the
(ioodfield \icinit\ worsliipped for o\er 40
years. The first ministers were Michael
Zimmennan. Gottlieh Holinhn. and John
Witzig.

This original hniiding was enlarged and
ri'huilt sexi'ral times and tlu'n in 1960. the
c-ongregation added a large assemhh room
and remodeled the old hniiding to fill the
needs of the growing congregation.

In 1917-18 the .-Xpostolic memhers and
friends of the Goodfieid community erected
their chnrch at the west edgi' of Cioodfield.
By ]961-fi2 tlie congregation liad outgrown
the old hniiding and proceeded to add a
large assembly room and dining room and
remodeled tlie old hniiding for increased
Snnilay .School rooms.

The History of Conger\iIle

(Tiiken from Thr Daihi Pantaqmiih. .July l!i:i:i.)

The building of a railroad bridge on the
Mackinaw River and the early winter in
the fall of 1887 created the \ illage of
Conger\ ille, and. incidentalK. killed the
town of Farncyville, now known as Macki-
naw Dells.

It occurred in this mamicr: In 1886 the
Lake Erie and Western Railroad secured
a charter to extend its tracks from Bloom-
ington to Peoria. Work began tlie follow-
ing year and it just happened that an
early winter closed in to stop work when
the rails had reached the Schrock farm,
two and a half miles east of the ri\er. Had
the winter been a little later, Congenille
might never have been horn, for the rails
might ha\'e reached the Iiridgc site at the
ri\er and in that case Farnewille would
ha\e benefited and prospered.

Post Office Moved. .\ siding was built at
tlve end of tlie rails at the Sciuock farm,
and a station placed there, first known as
the \ illage of Schrock and later as Conger-
\ille named after Ben Conger, an earl\-
settler with a great reputation as a hunter.
Lumber and other materials were hauled
and stored there pending the opening of
spring work on the Mackinaw Ri\er
bridge, and many workmen mo\ ed there
to participate in the building job. Se\eral
of the residents of Farncwille mo\ed to
the new \illage on the railroad that first
season, and the post office was later moved
to the new location. When the road pushed
westward the following summer, the siding
and station remained there antl to this day
serves the farming conununit\.

nie first grain elevator was built lure
in 1SS8 by A. P. Cory of Danvers and was
managed b\- J. F. Tobias. The first store
was binit b\ \'alentine Nafziger also of
Danxers and a blacksmith shop was b\iill
by Brandt Brothers who mo\-ed here from
Farney^'ille, then came a mill bnih by
Joseph Salzman. along with other stores
and shops.

Business and Industry

CJonger\ilIe and Goodfieid I'ach ha\ e the
usual businesses found in smaller towns —
grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations,
hardware stores, and limiber yards. In ad-
dition to these, Goodfieid has had a bank
since 1914, w-hen it was organized by
Simpson and Colburn of Eiueka and S. E.
Nafziger of Goodfieid. The building was
erected in 1915 and has ser\ed the com-
munity all these years. Dan Knajip is the
present cashier and a director.

A look at other business places and in-
dustries in Montgomery Township shows
them to be largely fann related.

Elexators were among the first busi-
nesses in both communities. TTiese ha\c
changed ownership o\er the years and
have been remodeled and enlarged to keep
pace with agricultural needs. Tlie dning
and storing of com, soybeans, and other
grains is an important part of their ser\'ice
now-.

116

Closely related to the elevators are the
feed mills. The big Pellet Service plant was
built on Route 117 at the edge of Goodfield
in 1963. This plant is now leased to the
Hale and Hunter Company of Chicago for
tlie manufacture and sale of Red Comb
Feeds. The present manager is Dave
Geraghoty.

Tlie Goodfield Milling Company has
been sen'ing the community many years.
At present it is owned and operated by
Leo Dorsey. It is distributor for Super-
sweet Feeds.

The Eureka Mineral Company of Con-
gervOle is owned and operated by J. D.
Schumacher.

In Conger\'ille, the Schrock Fertilizer
Company was organized in 1940 by J. B.
and A. J. Schrock. After about 15 years,
this successful business was sold to Stand-
ard Oil, Tuloma division.

The Dietrich Manufacturing Inc. began
in 1963 in the Bob Grimm Che\'rolet build-
ing. Now they ha\e 30 acres on Route 150
east of Goodfield with three big ware-
houses covering about 46,000 square feet.
They manufacture tractor dual wheels, dry
spreaders and blenders, liquid applicators
and other kinds of fertilizer equipment. At

Woodford County Histonj

peak season times, they employ nearly 100
people and work three shifts. William
Dietrich, Jr. is owner.

The Wiegand Fertilizer Equipment Inc.
was formed in 1966. They have purchased
the former John Deere buildings and are
busy making tool bar applicators, in-line-
trailers, 1,000 gallon tanks and other ferti-
lizer equipment. Henry and Simon \\'\e-
gand are the owners.

On Route 117, just north of Goodfield,
is the Tuloma Testing Laboratory where
soils are tested. Recently much new equip-
ment has been added for testing of liquid
fertilizers.

The Schrock Hybrid Com Company,
started by J. B. and A. J. Schrock, has been
well known for many years. The business
grew until over 3,000 acres were planted
in 1967. This has now been sold to die
Grace Company, but still managed by A. J.
Schrock.

The S. and S. Company is located in the
former Bob Grimm Chexrolet building in
Goodfield. There Paul Schuecking has a
fast growing wholesale farm equipment
business.

Harper and Sander of Eureka have pur-
chased a large plant on Route 150 east of

Things were cheap in 1897 by to-day's standards and fences included. Man in right fore-
ground, with his wife purchased fence, all 326 feet of it, from the Holndin Fence Co. for
$29.30 including gate. Picture here was made 63 years ago southeast of Goodfield, 111. Man
at well is Jacob Zehr, Jr., women in background are Mrs. Phoebe Zehr Wolber, her daughter
and Mrs. Zehr Warner. Jacob Zehr, Sr. and wife are at gate. Mrs. Wolber's small son fled to
the safety of the house because he was camera-shy!

Montgomery Township

the Dietrich Manufactiiring buildings and
arc iiio\in!i tcrtain dixisioiis of tlu'ir
Har\estorc Silo business to this location.

Out on Route 1.50, at the top of the hill.
is the Central Illinois Ansjus .Association
sale barn. It was built in 1946 and since
that time hundreds of pure bred cattle
ha\e been sold to buyers from all oxer the
countr\-.

Hohuliii Brothers Fence Company of
Coodfield is one of the oldest manufactur-
ing l)u.sines.ses in Central Illinois. In 1(S93,
John, Sam, and Tim Hohulin, sons of the
earl\- pioneer Gottlieb Hohulin, purchased
a hardware, implement and blacksmith
.shop in Coodfield. In 1897, they purchased
a fence \vea\ing machine which had been
in\'ented in Switzerland. Their first order
of the fence was sold to Jacob Zelir and
the second order to H. M. Robinson. As
business grew, they sold the hardware and
blacksmith and in 1917 built and moved
into their present place of business. Over
the \ears, Tim sold his interest and mox'ed
to another state. Sam died suddenh- in
1929. and John in 1946. The plant since
then has been entirely owned and operated
by the six sons of Sam, and now in the
71st year as Hohulin Brothers Incorix)-
rated; several of the fourth generation
Hohulins are working at the making and
erecting of fence.

Dr. J. R. Steffen, is our \eterinarian and
is located one mile cast of Coodfield along
Route 150.

Transportation

From earliest times, transportation (or
the potential for transjwrtation ) has been
a great factor in the location of settlements.
In this Montgomerv' Township has had
distinct advantages. The Mackinaw River
and its tributary creeks cut through the
township from boundary to boundary. Tliis
territory- was well knowii to earh- Indian
tribes ( Potawatomies, Fox. Ottawas and
Sacs ) as can be \erified by the many ar-
rowheads and other Indian artifacts still
to be found on farms adjoining the ri\ cr.
The ri\ er was the deciding factor for the

117

The first railroad l)ridge across thu Matkiiiaw was
a wooden trestle M: mile lony ereeteil in Mont-
gomerN' Townsiiip.

location of Farnis\ille. the first Mont-
gomery Township settlement.

Then in 1S.S6-8.S the Lake Krie & West-
ern R.R. purchased right-of-wa\ and built
a railroad between Peoria and Blooming-
ton. A wooden trestle was constructed
across the Mackinaw. The completion of
this railroad brought maii\- changes to
Montgomer\- Township. Faniis\ille dwin-
dled but a new settlement of Conger\ ille
came into being. Then H. M. Robinson and
several other ambitious cattle raisers and
farmers petitioned the railroad to build a
siding and stock pens so that stock could
be shipped from their area. Tlie railroad
did this and soon a village was started.
This was named Guthville in honor of
John Gudi of Washington, Illinois, who
owned a large tract of the land. The name
later took on the English translation of
Coodfield. The original wooden trestle was
replaced by a bridge about 19{)() and then
in 1947 the railroad (which had become
the Nickel Plate R.R. Co.) installed a new
6()()-foot span of steel. The road is now
part of the Norfolk and Western system.
Passenger trains were discontinued in 1951
and the depots, once such busy and popu-
lar places, are .soon to be things of the
past.

With the acKent of motorized vehicles
more and more attention was given to road
improvement. The dirt roads, a big prol)-

lis

Woodford County Hiaionj

lem even with the horse and liiiggy, were
impossible witli the ear and truck. So roads
progressed from dirt to gravel, to oil, to
blacktop and then to the concrete slab. In
1923 there came the concrete road from
Bloomington to Peoria, cutting across the
entire breadth of Montgomei"y Township
through Congenille and Goodfield to the
county seat at Eureka (Route 117).

Finally, in 1966 Interstate Route 74 was
completed, cutting across the entire south
end of Montgomery Township with an in-
terchange at Goodfield to join Route 117
north.

Also at the present time Woodford
County is building a new bridge over the
Mackinaw to replace the Reel bridge
(built in 1884 and added to in 1906) north
of Congerville. Practically all roads in the
township are black-topped.

Communication. Our entire township is
ser\ed by the Deer Creek Telephone Com-
pany. This has been owned and operated
by Guy Norris and his son, Dick, for at
least 20 years. It is a fully dial operated
system with dial offices in both Congerville
and Goodfield and has a hook-up with the
Bell Telephone System.

Interesting Facts —

Snakes were one of the dangers the
pioneers had to face.

In 18.58, Joe Klopfenstein operated a
butcher shop at Slabtowai. For two years
he made trips to Ein-eka to supply resi-
dents with meat. He made the trips twice
a week and often had fresh \cnison.

First super\'isor was James Vance.

First marriage in Montgomer\' Township
was that of Ebenezer Mitchell and Rachel
Vance, May 26, 1836.

John Finley and wife took eggs to
Eureka but found no market. Next day
took them to Slabtown and receix ed 3(*
per dozen. Took in exchange cotton at
5(' a lb. Within three weeks from then,
cotton went to 85('' a lb. due to the war.

Prairie grass grew 8 to 10 feet tall.

Prairie land which was swampy was
drained by ditches formed by pulling a
large iron ball with a team of horses. The

ditch was made into a trough with wooden
slabs.

Oxen were used to break the prairies,
sometimes five or six yokes to one plow.

Example of taxes for year 1875. Forty
acres assessed \'alue $200, equalized \'alue
$200, equalized \'alue by state board $186.
State tax 860, county tax 520, town tax 90,
district school tax 800, and road and bridge
tax 170, making a total tax of $2.14. In
1876, one year later, this same 40 acres of
land had an assessed value of $350, equal-
ized value by board of super\'isors $438,
equalized \'alue by state board $381. State
tax $1.07, county tax $1.22, town tax 170,
district school tax $2.97, road and bridge
tax .570, making a total tax for year of
$6.00.

One of the old pioneers tells that Chris-
tian Reeser, who lix'ed to be 103 years old,
helped Abraham Lincoln ford the Mack-
inaw River near where the Reel bridge is
now.

In 1923, surveyors disco\'ered that due
to errors in deeds, the Apostolic Christian
church owned part of Senator Lantz's yard
and he owned part of the church yard. An
exchange was made to straighten things
out.

Indians. Long before 1-74, U.S. 150 or the
L.E. & \W. Railroad, the Indians had estab-
lished a trail across what is nov\' Montgom-
ery Township. Historians tell us the trail
went from the site which is now Peoria
dirough the site which is now Carlock to
Lafayette, Indiana. This trail almost coin-
cided with the L.E.&W. Railroad laid
\ears later. Marker trees may still be seen
in the area of Mackinaw Dells. After
the Black Hawk War of 1832, most of the
Indians mo\'ed westward across the
Mississippi; however, Indians frequently
visited stores in Farnisxille as late as 1880.
It is thought that their burial ground was
somewhere near where the rixer was
forded.

In 1829, Jacob Ellis was the first settler
in Montgomeiy Township. James Vance
came soon afterward.

1847 — Land boom in Illinois. Land had
been $1.25 per acre and went to $3.00, then

Monl<!.()iiiciy Toniisliii)

to 86.00. Some accounts sa\' soini' fine
timber land near a stream and with a
.spring sold for S12.

1850 — Sc\ere malaria epidemic. W liolc
families were wiped out.

First business project in Coodfield was a
restaurant on site wliere the Zehr house
now stands.

Gottlieb Holnilin. came to Montt!;omer\-
Township from Baden. Clermany in 1S59.
He not only fanned but was also a minister
of the .XiTostolic Christian (Church; was a
well knowii teacher of the German lan-
guage, and was a skilled wea\er. His
beautiful co\erlets are treasured heirloom.s.

Hccollections of Mr. Lee Lantz. 96-\ear-
old resident of Congenille, and a \ery de-
\out member of the Apostolic Church:

"The \illage of Slabtown took its name
from a building that was boarded up with
slabs. The correct name of the place was
Farney\ille, named after a popular resident
by the name of Famcy. He seemed to have
some connection with the manufacture of
a kind of drink, not as effecti\e as LSD,
yet more powerful than Coca-Cola. The
Habeck store had a large trade in the
be\ erage for there was no license required
to sell it.

"■\\'hen it was known that the railroad
would be built, Mr. Habeck was deeply
concerned that a town shonkj be built and
a railroad station located at Slabtown,
though the railroad track was much higher
than the top of his store. He insisted that
it cost the town of Johnstown, Pa. ten times
more to build a town than it would cost
to bnild one in Slabtown. Mr. Habeck al-
ways wore a long beard and had a knot
tied in the end. When he failed in his ef-
lorts to get the town located in Slabtown,
it was said he would fie a double knot in
his beard.

"Slabtown had a blacksmith named Mr.
Kislick, who had a solution to the labor
problem, .\fter he had properly heated a
plowshare, he took his place on one side
of it, with his wife or mother-in-law on the
other; then as they turned the piece he
woidd beat the blade to a cutting edge.

"The post office was located near Ha-

119

beck's store. The mail reached Famey-
\ ille (often called Fane\\ille) b\' way of
Dan\'ers. Tliere were no regular mail car-
riers, so if some of the farmers li\ ing in the
neighborhooii of Fanie\\ille chanced to be
in Dan\ ers, they were asked to take the
mailbag along and see that it reached
Fameyv'ille.

"Slabtown, once a thri\ing \illage, was
e\-entnall\' replaced b\- a place of amusc;-
ment called Mackinaw Dells, but now that
too, is nearl\- forgotten.

"Oak Ciro\e. another small town north
of Carlock, was also left high and dr\ and
was replaced b\- Carlock w lu'u the railroad
was built.

"It was about 1889 when the railroad
switch was put in at Congen ille. The
trestle bridge at The Dells w as put in then
too. Tlie farmers were hired to come with
their teams and dump sho\ els to do the
grading. One man had a little team of
mules working. When they dumped the
sho\'el full of dirt over the edge, it was
too hea\'y for the mules to hold and they
were pulled o\er the embankment, head
over heels. E\eryone was amazed to see
that the mules were still able to work after
tills ordeal.

"At one time the Mackinaw River at the
Dells could only be forded since there was
no bridge. One man who was known for
his swearing, was floating his bo.x wagon
across the ri\er when the water was high
and the box floated away from the nmning
gears. The man started his swearing and
the men on the bank called to him "You'd
betti'r pra\ ! Don't swear. '

"When ('ongerxille was named there was
considerable debate whether it should l)e
called Schrock, (The switch was built on
Schrock's ]5roperty). A famil\- b\' the name
of Conger had been here longer so that was
the name chosen. However, it was often
confused with Cruger, so the ■■\illc" was
added, making it Conger\ille.

"Nafziger built the first store in Conger-
ville and also the first house (now torn
dowm) between Millard Reaba's house and
Highway 150.

"Marshall had th(> first hardware store

120

here. Eli Sharp bought the store from
Nafziger; Sam Lantz bought it from Sharp.
Ben Sharp ran the railroad ticket office for
a time.

"When Abraham Lincoln rode to Meta-
mora for court, he crossed the ri\'er at the
Reel bridge. Christian Reeser chatted with
him and ferried him across."

Some figures for the year 1878

No. of males in township under 21 years. . . . 189
No. of females in township under 21 years. . 175

Total 364

No. of males between 6 and 21 years 136

No. of females between 6 and 21 years 117

Total 253

No. of males attending; school in township. . . 105
No. of females attending school in township. 83

Total 188

No. of schools in township 6

A\erage number of months taught 6^12

Highest monthly wage paid to males. . .$ 50.00
Highest monthly wage paid to females. .$ 40.00

Amount paid teachers during year $1,631.58

(Beginning teachers, presently) $6,200.00

Some of Montgomery Township farms
have been in the same family for o\'er 100
years. Peter Vance, Henry Robinson and
Sam Stumbaugh each owned over 1,000
acres of land at one time.

Senator Simon Lantz was one of Mont-
gomer\''s best known citizens. He sened in
the Hlinois House and Senate for 38 years.
He made many contributions to agriculture
and his farm was truly a show place. On it
he raised Aberdeen Angus cattle and
Cheviot sheep.

The Robinsons, H. M., Sr. and H. M.,
Jr. were prominent Montgomery farmers.

A history Montgomery Township would,
quite understandably, be concerned with
the people who have farmed its fertile
acres. Herewith is a list of names of man\-
of those who have had an association uitli
the farms of this area:

Adams Baunian

Alexander Beetsehen

Allison Bindschaedler

Altorfer Birde

Altshue Bliss

llarkow Blunier

Barrett Brown

Woodford County History

Builta

Chaffer

Chaiunan

(""lay well

(""lyiner

rolburn

Conipler

Conger

Coniliear

Corn well

Coulter

Crai^

Crane

Crossinan

Daniel

Darst

Uetweiler

Dingledine

Dickinson

Do ward

Dreyer

Kgrlin

Ehresinan

Ernst

Farni

F'ehr

Field

Finley

Fryes

Gayley

Gelston

Gerth

Gilbert

Graham

Gresham

Gridley

Grim in

Guen^rich

(Juengrerich

Gningrich

Guth

Ha 1 1 am

Haiigartner

Harlan

Harlaiid

Hartman

Hartter

Harvey

Heinold

Heiser

Helderle

Hepperle

Herberger

Hinriohsen

Hoeft

Hoffman

Hohulin

Holiieer

Hoyt

Hunkler

Irons or Irions

•larrett

.Johnson

Jones

Ooos

Kanip

Kath

KaufFman

Kellogg

Kern

Kincaid

Kin^

Kingsbury

Knapp

Kreeb

Kuhn

Kuntz

l-add

Lantz

Lawyer

Lemons

Letr-her

Lewis

Litwilder

Madie

Martenay

Mathis

Maurer

McCloud

McGinnis

McNutt

Miller

Moser

Myers

Naffziger

NafFzinger

Newell

Nichols

Nixon

Nnttv

Oyer

Parks

Parsons

Patterson

Pepper

Pfeffinger

Phillips

Pifer

Plank

Plattner

liamsey

Rankin

Rassi

Reaba

Reed

Reel

Reeser

Rich

Risser

Robenstein

Robinson

Rokey

Ropp

Russell

Salzman

Sandenian

Sander

Sanpe

Schad

Schertz

Schneider

Schrock

Schumin

Schurter

Serpette

Sharp

Siebert

Simpson

Slonaker

Smith

Sonimers

Sparks

Stahl

Staker

Steffen

Stephens

Stewart

Stoller

Streit

Stumbaugh

Tanner

Tuttle

Ulrich

A''ance

Watkins

Wells

Wettstein

Whidmer

White

Widmer

Wiegand

Winkler

Williams

\\'iIson

Witzig

Wyss

Yergler

Voder

Young

Zeeniis

Zehr

Zeigler

Zimmerman

Zobrist

History of Olio rownsliij
by

BuRBUS Dickinson

Geojjrapli)'

The geographical characteristics of Olio
Township are determined largel>' b\- the
course of Walnut (jcek. This trilnitar\- of
the Mackinaw Rix'cr gives most of the
western and southern areas of the town-
ship a rolling or hilK topograph), with
many small streams w hich empt\ into Wal-
nut Creek. Se\eral sections in the eastern
part of the township are relati\el\- flat
prairie land.

Some parts ol the townshi]) are suitable
for crop farming. Much of the land near
Walnut Creek remains in timber, although
the walnut trees which ga\e the area its
original name are now rare. Gra\el de-
posits were found in several places and
these ha\e been put to good use. There are
coal deposits, but none ol the mining en-
terprises which were begun around 1900
reached the point ol production.

Settlement and Earlv Growth

The I'iist Settlers. The pionei'rs chose home
sites near the waterways. Groimd was first
broken in 1824 by Joseph Dillon, at a site
three miles south and slighlK' west of the
present W'oodford C^ount)' courthouse.

Dtuing the next 15 \ears other settlers
came into the area which became known as
Walnut Grove. Among them were Charles
Moore, Jonathon Baker, Daniel Meek, lohn
Bird, and a Mr. Wathen in 1827.

William .-XtteberrN . John Davidson. John
Dawdy, Joseph Martin. Mathew Bracken,
James and Robert Bird, and Nathan Owen
came in 1829: Joseph Meek, Henry Meek,
\\'illiam Bird, Da\id DeWeese. Thomas
DeWeese, John Oatinan, and Mathew Blair
in 1830.

Joshua \\'oosle\-, Francis Willis. Daniel

Tia\is, Isaac Black, (>aleb Davidson, John
Butclu-r, C^ooley Curtis arrived in 1831;
Thomas DeWeese in 1832.

James Mitchell, Ben Major, and Thomas
Kincade settled here in 18.33; William H.
Willis, Benjamin J. Hadford, and M. H.
Bullock in 18.34; and Solomon Tucker, Wil-
liam Daxc'iiport, Elijah Dickinson, and
Thomas Bullock in 18.'i5.

Most ol these s(>ttlers came from Ken-
tucky; a lew from Indiana and Ohio.

Versailles- Platted. The first \illage was
Versailles, platted in 18.36. Ihomas Bullock
was the energetic promoter of Versailles,
which was named after a city in Woodford
County, Kentucky, from which Bullock had
come. It was at the southeast corner of
Section 20, about three miles .southeast of
the present eourthou.se.

Benefiting from the fact that it was on
the stage coach line between Bloomington
and Peoria, Versailles began to develop as
a trading center.

Thomas Bullock in 1840 successfully
undertook to secure the formation of a new
county, to be named Woodford. The legis-
lation, approved in 1841, provided that
Versailles should be the temporary' county
seat lor two years. After the railroads
were constructed, it was isolated and lan-
guished.

Walnut (wocr. Walnut Grove was the name
used lor a strip along Walnut Creek, ex-
tending several miles from the cabins of
Darnel Meek and John McClintock on the
south to that of Daniel Travis (now the
site ol the Mt. Zion cemetery).

The first center of c-onnnunity activity
within this area was the Christian Church
nieetinghouse, bnilt in 1846 on Ben Major's

121

122

land on the site \\liere the soldiers monu-
ment now stands in Olio Cemetery.

Walnut Grove Aeadeiin' was established
in 1848 in a frame Iniilding which was
erected about 100 yards east of the church
meetinghouse. A year later a two-story
brick building was erected for the acad-
emy. Nearby, at about that time, there
was a boarding house for students, a gen-
eral store, and a blacksmith sliop. Until
1855 it appeared that these developments
would be the center of a new village.
Name "Eureka" Cho.wn. In 1850 the Wal-
nut Gro\'e Academy students, wlio had to
send some one to Washington or Metamora
for their mail, asked for better postal serv-
ice. Asa Fisher, principal of the academy,
requested a post office. He was appointed
postmaster, but was notified that mail
could not be addressed to Walnut Grove
because another \'illage (in McDonough
County) had a prior claim to that name.

A committee was appointed to choose a
new name. At a meeting in the home of
John T. Jones, a preacher, the committee
voted to accept Eureka at the suggestion
of John Lindsey, a young teacher in the
academy. Thus tlie name Eureka came into
use four or five years before there was a
city or college bearing that name.

Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was
in Olio Township many times from 1841
to 1856, when, as an attorney, he made the
circuit of the 18 county seats in the Eighth
Judicial District. He appeared in cases be-
fore the court when it was in session at
Versailles, and was lodged o\'ernight in the
home of R. M. Clark. After the county seat
was moved to Metamora, lie stopped in
Eiu-eka occasionally for meals.

Lincoln's one public appearance in
Eiu-eka was in October, 1856, when he
spoke in the chapel of the Walnut Gro\e
Academy building, at a spot where there
is a permanent historical marker near the
home of Prof, and Mrs. J. A. Rinker. He
spoke in behalf of the infant Republican
party, but no record of his address was
preserved.

Woodford County llistonj

Transportation

Railroads were the chief means of trans-
portation from 1855 until about 1925. The
Peoria and Oquawka ( now the T.P. & W. )
was constructed to Cruger in 1855 and
through Eureka the following year. Pro-
moters of the Chicago, Pekin and South-
western (now the Santa Fe) solicited con-
tributions for right-of-way as early as 1865
and in 1869 the Olio citizens were asked to
give the road $40,000 for assurance that it
would go through Eureka. Farmers in the
western part of the original Olio Township
were so opposed to this proposal that they
disconnected their land from Olio and
formed Cruger Township. After their with-
drawal the bond issue was approved.
Highicays. Highways originated in the
pioneer period where they were needed.
Volunteers cleared the land and felled trees
to bridge waterways. In 1909, farmers
south of Eureka subscribed funds to gravel
the main road. Shortly after that the town-
ship began graveling other roads. Major
steps in the impro\'ement of township
roads were a graxel bond issue in 1933 and
a blacktop bond issue in 1956.

The first concrete pa\ed highway in the
county was a single lane strip a mile or so
long, just north of Eureka. It was con-
structed in 1914 with state funds. In 1917
the state designated the road east and west
through Eureka as a state highwa\-. This
road, now Route 24, was pa\ed in 1923 and
1924. The north and south road, now Route
117, was pa\ed as a state highwav a few
years later.

Post Office. During tlie Walnut Gro\e era
mail came to Eureka \ia horseback. After
the Illinois Central railroad was built, the
horseback route was from Kappa to Meta-
mora. Soon after the railroad came to
Eureka the post office was mo\ed from the
academy to a small building just north of
Abishae Msers" hotel. Rural mail deli\'ery
began in 1902 and cit\' carrier ser\ice in
1911.

The City of Eureka

Late in 1855 John Darst, who owned
most of the land which is now Eureka,

Olio Touii>ihip

12.3

IcariK'tl wlnrc tlic Ffoiia and Oijuawka
railroad tracks would he laid. Hi' had a
sur\c>' made iiniiifdiattl\' and on Dfccni-
ber 29 recorded the plat of the Original
Town of Eureka. eo\erin;4 an area exteuil-
ing four blocks south from the railroad
right-of-way and t\\() blocks on each side
of Main street.

Darst sold tli(> lots in this original town
at an auction on January 1, 1S.56. Most of
the lots in the present business district
were sold at prices rantjing from .$2.5 to §40
a lot. Nearly all of the land was then in
timber.

The first i)uildiu;j;s were AImsIuu' M\"ers'
hole! and R. M. Clark's store, both at the
northwest corner of the sijuare. Otiier
stores were built on the west side of the
scjuare. John Nhijor liuilt (he first liouse
(still in use) on the east side of the sfpiare.

Darst reser\ed Block 1 ( now owned
by Eureka Facilities, Inc. ) for industry.
Shortly a flour mill and a sawmill were in
operation there.

Eureka Incorporated. Three years after
John Darst began selling lots in the Origi-
nal Town of Eureka, l^obert M. Clark took
the leadership in getting municipal go\ern-
nient organized. The charter was granted
b\- the state legislature on Februar\- 2.3,
1859. Chuk was elected president of the
trustees and Asa Fisher, clerk. The hotc-1
proprietor, .\. M. Myers, was chosen police
magistrate.

The original munici])alit\ was a rec-
tangle coxering exactly two scjuare miles.
Between 1900 and 190.5 sc-\eral areas at the
north and .south ends of this rectangle were
disconnected by initiative of the propertN-
owners.

The basis of the Eureka cit\- go\ crnment
was changed twice. On August 30, 1880,
the citizens \oted to become a \ illage
under the general law of Illinois. On .April
16, 1S95, another election authorized the
change to the present form of cit\' go\ crn-
ment.

County Seat. Between LSfiT and 1893 there
were several unsuccessful l)ids to remove
the countv seat from Mctamora. I'll Paso

tried once. Roanoke twice, and l^uika
once. A second attempt by Eureka was
made in IS94, with a hard-working cam-
paign committee led by Roger B. Dickin-
son, a Republican, and L\ on Karr, a Demo-
crat. The\' were successful, the \ote being
2,595 for removal to Eureka, and 1,960
against. .After a legal test of the electicn,
the state Supreme Court in 1896 ordered
the removal to Eureka and the county of-
ficers were housed temporarily in various
buildings.

One of the inducements which had been
offered by luneka was the donation to the
countv of the- cit>' scjuare which had been
set aside for public purposes bv John Darst
in 18.56.

P. .A. Felter of Olio tov\ nship was chair-
man ot the supervisors committee to build
a new courthouse. .After interviewing 16
architects who wanted the job, the com-
mittee in January 1897 gave the contract
to Bell and Kent of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Four months later the construction contract
was awarded to H. C. Bruning, of Havana,
for .S6().762.

The sherifl's residc-nce and jail were con-
structed in 1901.

Streets. Until 1880 streets and roadwavs
were dusty or muddv', according to season,
and streams were bridged with logs which
washed away periodically Around 1880
stone arches were built, one ov c>r Bracken's
branch at the north edge of Eureka and
one over Walnut Creek, a few feet south
of the present state highvvav'. .A few years
later narrow iron bridges came into use.

Talk of paved .streets began in the Ijncka
Citv Council in 1898, but it was not until
1909 that anv- materialized. That v car. some
seven blocks of Maiii street vvcre paved
with brick. Other streets wc-r(> oiled annu-
ally. In 1926 and 1927 special assc-ssments
were- used to finance concrete paving of
most of the streets in Eureka.

In the earliest period of ICmcka's hislorv
there were few sidewalks. In front of each
store there was a wood platform. One wood
sidewalk extended from the business dis-
trict to the college; at a point near the
present Davenport School plavground this

124

walk was on posts about five feet above the
marshy ground. Better sidewalks came
after 1883 when the first Portland cement
was imported and when brick also came
into use.

Public watering troughs for horses were
built as early as 1865 and continued in use
until about 1920. There were also iron posts
and a cliain around the courthouse, so that
farmers who came to town could tie up
their horses.

Fire Protection. The most notable of fires
in earl\ Eureka history were the two flour
mills, in 1882 and 1888, and a college
dormitoiy, the first Lidas Wood, in 1894.
Fire protection became lugent when C.
H. Barney's li\'ery barn and dining room
burned on Februan,' 2, 1898. Enough hose
and a sufficient water suppl\' were avail-
able to keep the fire from spreading into
the business district, but the margin was
close.

The result was the organization of a
volunteer fire company, under Chief M. E.
Danahay, with regular meetings, rules, and
assigned responsibilities. Through the years
this \'ohmteer company acquired equip-
ment through donations, benefits, and ap-
propriations of the county council. Hose-
carts, a ladder wagon, and chemical tanks
were taken to fires b\' horses or manpower
until 1921. That year the firemen put on a
benefit ball and raised funds for the first
self-powered fire truck. A second truck was
purchased in 1931, with funds contributed
by farmers with the understanding that one
truck would be available for rural area
fires.

Broader coxerage and better equipment
became possible after the organization of
the Eureka Fire Protection District in 1953.
It serxes 63 square miles of area, including
Goodfield.

Notable fires since 1900 have been the
older grain elevator, March 27, 1919; the
college tabernacle, July 12, 1923; the Chris-
tian Church, March 6, 19.32; and the Wal-
nut Groxe apartments, December 13, 1956.

Eureka "Dry". Eureka has been "dry"
under local option except for one two-year

Woodford County History

period. The sale of into.xicating liquors
was banned by the Eureka go\ernment
which was chartered in 1859. In 1882, the
newly elected village trustees removed the
prohibition, but two \ears later the citizens
elected trustees who restored the ban. A
petition for repeal in 1961 resulted in an
election which resulted in 768 votes to
continue to ban the sale of liquor in Eureka
and 246 votes to permit the sale.

City Planning. An ordinance pro\'iding for
zoning in the City of Eureka was adopted
December 2, 1957. Zoning was extended to
the rural area after a planning study by the
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
and the enactment of a county-wide zoning
ordinance in 1963. Further proxision for
orderly growth was made in 1967, when
the Eureka City Planning Commission was
established and cit\' funds were appropri-
ated to match a federal grant for a full
scale city planning program.

Education

Teacher-sponsored subscription schools
were operated in the Walnut Gro\'e area
as early as 1831 by Joshua Woosley and
William Hoshor. When Woodford County
was formed, the way was open for the
estabhshment of public school districts.
The public school system dexeloped in
Olio Township with six country schools
and several city schools. The first public
school in Eureka was near the southwest
corner of the college campus. In the city in
the 1870's there was a west side school and
also one on the north side. In 1885 the Dis-
trict 88 board constructed a two-story brick
building at the south end of Callender
Street and provided for both elementary
and high school courses.

Expanding needs led to the construction
of the Davenport School building in 1910,
but for fi\e >'ears only the first stor\' was
used; the upper grades were still quartered
in the old building. When the Township
High School District, Number 123, was
authorized by an election in 1915, its board
leased the old building exclusi\ely for
high school use. In 1926 the high school
board purchased the property-, dismantled

Oho TotniMhiii

thf old building and constructed thf first
unit of the present high school plant.

In the 1940's there were a number of
proposals for consolidation of school dis-
tricts. None materialized until March 5.
1949. when the voters appro\ ed Unit Dis-
trict 140. B\- 1951, the last of the countr\-
.schools had been phased out. The high
.school plant was expanded with a new
g\mnasium and other facilities in 19.56. at
which time tlie junior hiiih school division
was established.

Eureka CoUeg.e. The predecessor of Eureka
College was an academy which originated
in 184<S when Ben Major and several other
citizens of the communitv' guaranteed the
salary of a teacher, Asa Fisher, and had a
small building constructed.

The academy attracted not onl\- local
students but many \oung people from
Christian Churches throughout the state.
Its success led in 1S55 to the chartering of
Eureka College, with a board of trustees
consisting of both Eureka citizens and men

125

who were leaders in Christian Churches of
Illinois.

\ 15-acre campus was donated by Elias
B. Myers and James Conover. The .\dmin-
istration Building, still in use, was built
in 1857 and 1858. Other educational build-
ings have been the Chapel. 1869; Burgess
Hall, 1892; Pritchard Gymnasium. 1916;
Vennum Science Hall, 1917; M.'lick Li-
brar\-, 1967. Residence halls and dining
facilities have been prox ided by various
buildings.

The liberal ;irts curriculum has residtcd
in most of the college's graduates entering
the teaching field, other professions or en-
gaging in business. \ large lunnber have
attended graduate schools. (Coeducational
from its beginning. Eureka was one of the
first colleges in the nation to admit men
and women to the same courses to study
on an equal basis.

The enrollment never exceeded 200 prior
to World War I. It has since grown to more
than 5(X).

A silent witness to the worthy services of Eureka College in the interest of Christian Jiducatioii
for 110 years is the Administration Building, erected in 1858, and still center of life on the
campus.

126

Community Institutions

Churclws. The first churcli in Olio to\yn-
ship was tlie Christian Cliureli, organized
in 1832 in a cabin a halt mile northeast of
the present railway station. The congrega-
tion built a meetinghouse in 1846, on
Ben Major's land (now the cemetery), but
moved in 1864 to the present site on Main
street.

The Eureka Methodist Church was or-
ganized in 1858 through the efforts of
Zadock Hall of Worth Township. Presby-
terians who had ino\'ed into the community
began meeting in 1867 and were officially
recognized the following \car.

Mennonites began settling along the
Mackinaw Ri\'er in the 1830's and later in
the eastern and northeastern part of Olio
Township. They became members of the
group which built the church in Roanoke
Township in 1875.

Members of the Apostolic Christian
Church entered the countv in the ISSO's.

Woodford County lli.stonj

Some residents of Olio were in the group
which constructed the first church in 1873
in Roanoke Township. As early as 1896
members of this congregation had an aux-
iliary meeting hall on Myers street in
Eureka, used primarily for evening serv-
ices. In 1957, members living in Eureka
were responsible for construction of the
new chinch on Cruger A\'enue.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church was
organized in 1927, the Eureka Church of
the Nazarene in 1942, and the Baptist
Chiu-ch built south of the city in 1961.
Cemetery. The Olio Cemetery originated
in 1848 as a burial ground of the Christian
Church. When the church mo\ed to a new
site the cemetery came under the jurisdic-
tion of the City of Eureka. In 1905 a town-
ship cemetery was organized, and addi-
tional land was purchased. In 1906, title to
the original cemeten- was transferred to
the to\\nship by the city and the heirs of
Ben Major. The cemetery has since been

|\ V, f

when chautauiiiKi was a big institutiDii in Eureka life, it was opened each summer with
parade — band, autos. and horse drawn wliicles.

under the jurisdiction of the township
trustees.

Chautauqua. During the period when the
chautauqua was a popular medium of cid-
ture and entertainment. Eureka had two

series. The first, known as a "camp meet-
ing", was held annually from 1890 to 1898
at a site near the present Maple Lawn
Homes. The week-long program attracted
people from El Paso, Washington, Meta-

Olio Toirn^lii))

mora. I'l'oria. and otlicr iu'aih\' communi-
ties; main- ot tlu-m had tents on the
grounds.

In 1907 a (.liaiitancina corporation was
organized. It iuld tortli annualK' on t!ic-
college campus trom that year to 1930,
bringing such well-known personalities as
William Jennings I5ryan. Carrie Nation,
and "BilK Sunda\ .

Liljianj. The Eureka Womans Club, in
1930, organized a lil)iar\ which was sup-
ported by donations and volunteer labor.
It was so well receixed that in 1936 the
city coimcil took oxer the project, appropri-
ated funds and appointed an official library
board. .\ ta.\ rate was established b\- a
referendum in 1942.

The libran- receix ed a permanent build-
ing in 1944 when Miss .\nnie E. Daxidson
died. She provided in her will that the cit\'
library board would receive her residence
property if citizens of the community con-
tributed $10,000 to an endowment fund to
maintain the building. This fund was raised
later that year.

Parks, .\fter successfully sponsoring the
construction of Lake Eureka in 1941 as a
public water supply, the civic progress
committee ot the Eureka Communitv- .\s-
.sociation took steps to assuri' the develop-
ment ol the lake area as a public park.
Petitions were circulated and the \oters.
on April 20, 1943. apjirovcd the first lev v
of a city or park district tax in thv county.
A second park was tlu' outgrowth of the
golf association which dates back to 1921.
It rented land ow ned bv ben J. Kaufman.
In 194S Mr. Kaufman deeded the 49 acres
to five trustees, to be used permanently as
a park or public golf course for the benefit
ot the people of Eureka and the surround-
ing territory.

Bauds. The brass baud has long been a
favorite aspect of culturi' in Olio Tow nsliip.
.\s early as the LS.5()"s. bands plaved in the
meetinghouse of the Christian Cluirch.
There was a bandstand in the Eureka pub-
lic square before it became the courthouse
site. Eureka College had a band in ihc
lS90"s and Eureka Iligh School had a hand

127

as earlv' as 1917. The town lands were
priv atelv' sponsored and suiiported until
1926 when a band tax was voted.

The Eureka Choral Society, organized in
1915. sponsored music festivals and pre-
C^hristmas oratorios for nearly 40 vcars.

Another musical organization was the
mandolin club organized in 1914 by Dr.
R. H. Smith, with more than 40 children
participating. It was active for several
years.

Communitij Associations. Various organiza-
tions for community improvement flour-
ished at various times: a Home Improve-
ment Society in 1901, a Eureka Iinjirove-
ment Association in 1903. and several
business associations, the most active of
which was a Commercial ('lub lormed in
1913.

The Kiwanis Club, formed in ihe early
1920's. retired from the scene in 1939 .so
that its members could become a part of
the Eureka Community Association which
has sinc(> been active. This organization has
promoted sueli improvements as Eureka
Lake, the library, the sewage disposal
system, street signs, zoning, youth recrea-
tion programs, the choice of the lilac as the
city plant, and the organization ol the
United l^'und. Its most ambitious piojt^ct
was the sponsoring of twelve i'uni|)kin
Festivals from 1939 to 1961. The parades
and free entertainment at the courthouse
square attract(>d large crowds to these festi-
vals. After 1961 this jiroject was dropped
because tlu> raising and canning of pump-
kin in Eureka was discontinued.
Ildspihil (iiid .V(//.s/(ig Homes. Hospitaliza-
tion lieuan in Eureka in 1922 when Dr.
R. II. Smith enlarged his residence-office
propeitv to prov ide a tew rooms for patient
care. .Mter his death Mrs. Snnth jirovided
for the patients of other physicians. Some
years later a corporation was lonned to
operate the facility. In 1959 a community
committee helped with the sale of a SI9(),-
000 bond issue to prov ide hmds lor a mod-
ern firejirool addition to the original build-
ing.

The Meuiionite Home for the Aged was
conslrueled in 1922. \\'i(h capaeitv for

128

about 40 residents, it provided shelter care,
with nursing care facilities for a \'ery few.
In 1960 this institution began a program of
constructing cottages for retired persons
who were able to care for themscKes. The
institution's name was changed to Maple
Lawn Homes. A major expansion was un-
dertaken in 1965 when the institution con-
structed a 64-bed nursing home, financed
by a government grant and funds sub-
scribed by people in the Woodford Count)'
area and by Mennonite churches through-
out the state.

Also completed in 1965 was the Apostolic
Christian Home with facilities for about
48 residents.

Athletics. As earh- as 1850 Olio residents
were playing games similar to baseball. An
independent ball team in 1870 played a
season against teams from Peoria. Bloom-
ington, and elsewhere without losing a
game. Some games were played at the
public square which is now the courthouse
site.

In 1892 Eureka College had a football
team which defeated just about all of the
college opposition in the state, including
the University of Illinois, but lost one
game, 12 to 6, to the Unix'ersity of Chicago.
A town football team went through the
1903, 1904 and 1905 seasons without de-
feat.

Tlie college began playing basketball
about 1900, and the high school in 1907.
Both used a 28 x 40 room at the college
until Pritchard gymnasium was built.

Horse racing had a following around
1880 to 1890. John Van Fossen had a track
at his farm.

Professions and Business

Projessions. Ben Major, one of the Walnut
Grove pioneers, was a physician, who died
in 1852, a victim of an epidemic which also
took several of the patients he was treating.
At least three other physicians practiced in
Eureka before 1870. The best known was
Dr. N. B. Crawford, who came in 1864 and
lived in Eureka until his death in 1928. The
first dentist was probably P. Boyle, who
was practicing in 1875.

Woodford County History

The first attorneys were Bazel D. Meek,
who began practice in 1863, after serving
in the Union Army, and R. T. Cassell.

Veterinary medicine was practiced as
early as 1894 by W. W. Giles and probably
by others.

Business and Indtistnj. Shorth- after John
Darst sold the lots in the original town of
Eureka, R. M. Clark, who had a general
store near the college, built the first build-
ing in the new business district, at the site
which is now 202 North Main St. Abishae
Myers built a hotel across the street to the
east of Clark's store. By 1859 there was a
growing business area along the west side
of the square and down the Main street hill
to the railroad, as well as on the north and
south sides of the square. The business roll
included food stores, clothing and general
stores, meat markets, a harness shop, a
wagon and blacksmith shop, hardware,
drugs, and lumber and coal dealers.

There were also small industries, such as
steam sawmills and brick-making plant.
Down on Mill Street were two flour mills,
and at the office of one J. A. Davis ser\'ed
as the community's first banker. A few
years later there was a handcraft furniture
shop, just north of the railroad.

The biggest of the early industries was
the sawmill and brick and tile works oper-
ated until 1897 by the Gudeman brothers,
at the north end of Callender street. As-
sociated with this enterprise were the be-
ginnings of Eureka's water system in 1886
and electric ser\'ice in 1893.

In the 1890's Alex Campbell had a meat
packing enterprise which at one time em-
ployed 30 men and shipped some of its
products to England. There was also a
creamery at the north end of the street
now so named — Creamer\' Street. After
1897 Albert Gaylor operated a one-man
cigar factory.

A canning enterjirise established in 1895
lasted onK' one season, but in 1898 the
plant was taken over by Roger B. Dickin-
son and prospered under the direction of
his sons Eugene and Richard. It was sold
in 1929 to Libby, McNeill and Libby. and
continued until 1960.

Olio Tounsliip

From LSiS4 to 1903 there were several
attempts at coal mining but none readied
the production stage.

Shortly after 1900 F. B. Stumpf, a drug-
gist, was Eureka's first auto owner and
dealer.

Motion picture entertainment began in
1904 the early shows being indoors in the
winter and outdoors during the summer.

.\ major wholesale business was the out-
growth of the pmchase, in 1914. by Henry
Klaus of the first wireless telegraph eipiip-
ineut in the area. Encouraged b\ his father,
(Caesar Klaus, Henry was soon selling
e(|uipment ])>■ mail order. The business
grew and in time mo\ed to Peoria.

Netcspapers. Eureka's first newspaper was
the Woodford Journal, started December
10, 1867, by John W. Karr. From 1873 to
1913 it was published 1)\- members of the
liadford famil\. Competition developed
\\ith the Woodford Cotinti/ Republican.
establislied in 1896 and a third newspaper
which eventual]) took the name Woodford
Counttj Democrat. In 1906 the Democrat
was purchased by tlie Hadfords and
merged with the Journal. In 1913 F. E.
Low. who had been publisiier of the Re-
publican from 1900 bought out the Demo-
crat-Journal, and gave the combined publi-
cation the name Woodford County Journal,
which has since retained under publishers
A. E. Potts to 1937 and Burrus Dickinson
since then.

Pul)lic Vtilitie.'i. Public water and electrical
ser\ ice came to Eureka thrtnigh the enter-
[irise of Joil and .\lbert Gudeman who
operated a brick and tile works on the
north side of the city. In 1886 the city ac-
cepted tlieir gift of some land, drilled a
well, constructed a water tower, laid mains
and contracted with the Gudemans to
pump water into the system.

In 190.5 the city established its own
pumping plant at a site north of the county
jail, but wells nexcr pro\'ided an adequate
water suppK. .\ projxjsal for a bond issue
lor an impounding system was \oted down
in 1930. A second attempt on April 15, 1941
resulted in a favorable vote and the de-

129

vi'lopment of the Lake Eureka watiT sup-
ply and plant.

Electrical service began in 1893 from
the (iudeman brothers steam plant by a
new corporation, the Eureka Brick, Tile
and Electric Co. Some 20 arc type street
lights were installed and lines were strung
to service the busines.s district and some
residences. Tlu' I'lectric systi'ui was sold to
C. C. McDonald in 1897. In 190.5 a second
electric plant was built b\ W. J. Whctzel,
just north of the new cit\- water plant. The
Whctzel plant was successful and after a
year McDonald suspended his operation.
In 1911 the Whetzel system was purchased
by a Peoria company and later became a
part of the Central Illinois Light Co. This
company eventually extended service to
rural areas and added gas service in 1957.

Dr. N. B. Crawford, in 1885, installed a
telephone from his office to his residence.
It was the first phone in Eureka and pos-
sibly the first in the county. In 1897 there
was one other phone in tlie city, in H. C.
Baird's office, for long distance use only.
During the next few years several associa-
tions of farmers installed lines and bv' 1901
another association had a crude form of
dial equipment attached to 70 phones in
the city of Eureka. Tlie various associations
were merged into one companv' which was
sold in 1912 to M. F. Melick and his .sons,
who operated it until it became a part of
the General Telephone System in 1958.

A city sewage disposal system was ad-
ded to the public utilitit>s in 1949.

Ai^riculture. Although earlier organizations
of farmers had their impetus in other town-
ships, the Farm Bureau organization was
born in Olio. The desire for this organiza-
tion was kindled by a speech delivered at
Eureka College, December 18, 1914, at an
agricultural short course, by E. T. Bobbins,
who had been the first extension adv iser in
Tazewell county. The orgaui/ation was
perfected January 22, 1915. Two Olio farm-
ers, Howard Leonard, who was later state
director of agriculture, and I-Vank Felter
were president and secretary, respectively.
Their purpose of securing a Woodford

i;3()

County farm ad\ iscr was rcali/rd on Jami-
ary 11, 1916, wlicn M. L. Mosher was cm-
ployed.

The fii-st grain marketing facilit\- was an
elevator built in 1863 by J. M. Murray. A
second was built in 1901 by Pierce A.
Fclter. In 1916 the Eureka Farmers Co-
operative Association, with Jo Major as
president, acquired both elevators. The
older elexator on Callender street was
scheduled for dismantling when it burned
to the ground on March 22, 1919.

Another marketing cooperative, the
Eureka sales barn, originated in 1919, but
suspended when the building was sold to
the Farm Bureau in 1935 and was remod-
eled to become a part of the organization's
office building.

Population and Economic Base

The first population count in Olio Town-
ship was in 1S60 when there were 604 per-
sons living in Eureka and about 200 more
outside of the village. Growth continued
consistently until 1900 when tlie township
population was 2,251. Then for 30 years
there was little change. From 2,162 in the
township in 1930 there was another growth
period to 3,256 in 1960, the biggest jump
coming between 1940 and 1950.

The population of the City of Eureka
grew to 1,661 by 1900, but dropped to
1,525 by 1910 because several areas were
disconnected from the city. It changed very
little until 1930, then increased to 2,538 in
1960.

Tlie township population outside of
Eureka has held steady between 600 and
700 since 1890. There has been a decline
in the number li\ing on farms but they
have been replaced by other residents who
built homes outside the municipal limits.

Agriculture and related occupations pro-

Wooclfonl Coiintij liistonj

vided most of the township's incoini' until
around 1920. Tlie development of high-
ways broadened the economic base by
making it convenient for Eureka area resi-
dents to take employment in the Peoria
area and it is currently estimated that about
600 are so employed. Within the last 20
years, however, the number of empknment
opportunities in the community has in-
creased greatly, from such sources as
Eureka College, the hospital and nursing
homes, and the expansion of go\'ernmentaI
functions at the county seat.

Historical Societies

The county Old Settlers Association was
organized in 1S74 at Eureka. The original
constitution limited membership to persons
who had been residents when the county
was formed in 1S41. After a period of rela-
tively little activity, it was reorganized in
1891 with less restrictive membership pro-
visions. There were three annual meetings
in El Paso and several in Eureka. In 1901
Metamora was chosen as the permanent
home of the Old Settlers Association.

The Woodford County Historical Society
was organized December 3, 1903 at Eureka
with B. D. Meek as president. The organi-
zation held meetings at which papers on
county history were read and relics were
exhibited. It was particularly active from
1916 to 1941, under the presidency of Levi
J. Freese. In 1926 this society dedicated
boulders marking the sites of Lincoln's
speech in Eureka, the founding of Walnut
Grove Academy, and of the villages of
Bowling Green and Versailles.

In 1941 the society originated the plan-
ning for a pageant given July 30, 31, and
August 1 in observance of the centennial
of Woodford County. Since then the so-
ciety has been inactive.

Palestine T()\viislii|)
hy

Mrs. Henry E. Stockhausen

Palestine towniiii'. a fertile spot in
Woodford Coiint)'. was destined to hetonic
tile site tor three \illages. Two villages de-
clined and ceased to exist in less than 40
Ncars. The other \illage, Secor, has snr-
\i\c(.l the changes of time for more than
100 sears.

hi lS3fi, the first settlement in Palestine
township was laid out and named b\'
Francis M. Willis, who tame from Bowling
Green. Kentuek\ . .\ plat of Bowling Green
shows a public stjuare with streets named
for the chief cities of the state. Early in-
habitants came from Kentucky, Virginia,
the Carolinas and other southeastern states.
Wild game, such as deer, prairie chicken,
sc(nirrel. i)h(>asaiit. ((iiail. wild turkey and
geese, provided tiie settlers with ample
food supplies. Panther Creek and the
Mackinaw Rixer supplied an aliuiulauce of
fish.

Willi the purchase ot the first w ater-
])Owered grist mill in Woodford Coimt\' by
Francis M. Willis Irom (Jharles Moore,
growth was encouraged. J. M. and Aaron
Bichardson opened the first general store
in 1837. The building boom increased with
the addition of a hotel, a cheese factors',
hardware store, more than one blacksmith,
a pork packing plant, some distilleries, and
even a short-li\ed post office. In time the
town boasted of 4!) buildings and a popu-
lation exceeding 300. The stagecoach line
Irom iiloomington to Peoria passed through
Bowling Green.

Abraham I-incoln, Da\id Da\is. and
Bexcrcnd Gartwright stopped at Bowling
(ircc II (lining their trax'cls in this area. But
when the Peoria and Oejuawka l^ailroad
by-passed liowling Green, decline began,
in 1S7S. the WOodlord C!ount\' records

show it ceased to be. Now ouh an inscribed
boulder and a couple of marker slabs in the
cemetery mark the spot where once this
thriving village of Bowling (ireen existed.

Another early settlement, about fi\e
miles south of Secor. was Poketown, named
for "Poke" Burger who was its first settler.
Here was a general store, two backsmith
shops and a school. Like Bowling Cireen,
Poketown, too, passed into olilix ion with
the coming of the railroad.

As a business \enture, three brothers,
sons of Francis Secor of New York City,
had connections with the railroad during
its early histor\'. Charles A. Secor, for
whom the \ illage was named, was a mem-
ber of the firm of Cruger, Secor, and Com-
pany which was awarded the contract for
the construction of the eastern extension
of the Peoria and Ocjiiawka l^ailroad. After
the completion of the railroad the town
was snn'eyed and platted b\' D. II. Davi-
son, county surveyor, June 10. 1857. One
hundred years later on June 21-22-23, 1957,
the Secor Centennial Celeliration com-
inemoiated this e\ent.

Early Settlers

Early settlers include such names as Eli
and Joel Powell, Van Scyoc, Williamson,
E. T. Van Alstine who built the first house
and conducted the first store, Jacob Lahr
who had the first blacksmith shop, Ru-
dolph llarseim who conducted the first
general store. Deacon Troshcr \\\\o (estab-
lished the first boarding house. Dr. P. L.
Tribbe\ who ])racticed medicine. Fry, Bil-
linger, F. X. Haussler who opened the first
furniture store, Moore (Collins and sons
who manufactured tile and brick, I'nder-
liill who built the taiiions "Woodford

131

132

Woodford County History

Marker showiny the site of the once thriving and prosperous village of Bowling Green, named
and land out bv Francis M. Willis who came from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

House", H. Ludwig who operated a tin
shop, H. Dierking, J. Seibel, A. Englis who
established a carriage and wagon repair
shop, H. Johnson who wrote contracts and
legal instruments, J. E. Robeson who of-
fered first class accommodations in the
New Home Hotel, L. Riehl, and many
others.

Businesses

In the midst of a prosperous agricultural
region, naturally, one of the first businesses
to flourish was a mill and an elexator. The
first elevator was built by Peter Crow, who
came to Woodford County in 1852. Through
the years old elevators were replaced by
larger and more modern ones. Some were
destroyed by fire, one in 1910 and the last
on March 15, 1967. A new elevator, valued
at $380,000, with a 350,000 bushel capacity,
is now under construction.

To carry on local business, a bank was
necessary. The first banking interest in Se-

cor was carried on by Henry Dierking. The
First National Bank was organized January
1, 1902 with E. J. Harseim as cashier. Oper-
ation of this bank continued until Presi-
dent Roosevelt's proclamation of March 6,
1933 which closed the bank and it was
never reopened.

Early communication was begun when
E. T. Van Alstine acted as the first post-
master when the Secor post office was be-
gun on September 3, 1857. This service has
been continuous. In 1960, a new post office
building was constructed. C. H. McGough,
the postmaster, has ser\ed since 1949. The
first telephone exchange began in 1899.
The company became a cooperatixe ex-
change until January 1, 1967 when it was
sold to the Deer Creek Telephone Com-
pany.

General merchandise stores provided
everyday needs. Garages, a hardware store,
ta\'erns, and a laundromat continue the
usual village business.

Pdlcstinc Townshii>
C'hurches

Early settlers were greatK- coiui'rnetl
about the spiritual needs of the coni-
nuinity. The Christian (Church, the first one
built after laying out the \ illage of Seeor,
opened for worship in 1862 with Reverend
James Holieson as minister. This church he-
came inacti\e about 194.'3.

In 1S65, two more churches were organ-
ized — St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, with
Reverend Herrmann Sieving as the first
resident pastor, and the Methodist Episco-
pal, w ith Reverend Webber as pastor. Both
organizations constructed buildings which
have been replaced, remodeled, or im-
proved throughout the years to meet the
grov\ing needs of the congregations. In
1S9S, part of the Christian Church organi-
zation withdrew and built the present
Church of Christ which is still active. In
the southern part of Palestine Township,
Cieiitennial Chapel was built in 1876 by the
Lhiited Brethren and the Methodist de-
nominations and was used jointlv bv both.
Later the church fimctioned as an inter-
denominational church until it was de-
stroyed bv fire December 18, 1960.

133

Schools

CJloseiv following tlu' establislinii lit of
the village the school was started in the
Secor area. The first school was held in the
home of Mrs. Clement Oatman before Pal-
estine became a township. In IS57 the first
small frame school building was erected
witli William Hendron as teacher. In 1860
a much larger frame building was con-
structed, which served as the educational
center until 1906 when a safer and more
modern brick structure replaced it. Two
years of high school, besides the eight ele-
mentary grades, were taught until 1940. In
1941 the Secor school was an elementary
school of eight grades with only three
t(>achers. In 1948 the Secor school became
a part of the El Paso Community Unit
District No. 375, serving the first si.x grades.
Since then there have been times when
seven grades were taught, or sometimes
six, and at present only the first four. Other
students are transported by bus to El Paso.
Mrs. Jennie Reger Butler taught two gen-
erations of primarv- students from 1880 to
1903. She was greatlv' loved and respected
bv all. Other teachers who served ten or

The Secor business district — Gilman .Strct-t in 19.57

134

more years in the Secor school are Lida
(Rock) Powell, Leona Mae Frye (de-
ceased), Linda Faw, Irene (Forth) Wes-
sel, Neva (Zeiger) Stockhansen, and
Thelma (Grubb) Shuman.

The Secor Volunteer Fire Department is
one of the area's x'aluable organizations.
Organized in 1946, it has efficiently ser^'ed
this fire district to the present time. Dorsey
Hibbs was the first fire marshal.

Besides the \arious church organizations,
the Secor Household Science Club has been
active as a ladies ci\ic group since 1919.

Miss Minnie Vautrin, daughter of E. L.
Vautrin, who purchased the first black-
smith from Jacob Lahr, is probably Secor's
most famed personality. She became a
world renowned missionary to China. Ar-
riving in China in 1912, she studied the

Woodford Couitty History

Chinese language, customs, and culture.
Then she founded a girls' school in Lu-
chowfu. This was so successful she was
asked to be a member of the faculty at
Gingling College at Nanking. Here she
laljored for years, enduring the Japanese
invasion and the war years until 1940. She
was awarded the highest honor, "The Em-
blem of the Blue Jade," by the Chinese
government for her undying efforts and
courage. Broken in health, she returned
to the United States, but lived only until
May 16, 1941. She was known as the "God-
dess of Merc\ " and her memory will re-
main always, a threat to the pagan and an
inspiration to the humble.

Palestine Township, lying in the heart of
the fertile Illinois agricultural area, remains
rural in character.

.& £-'<•%- •

Paiiohi Township

Mrs. Ethel Eft

Paxola TowNSHii' lies south of Minonk,
east of Cireenc. nortli of El Paso town-
ships in Woodford Cx)nnt\', and [ludson
Township, of McLean C^ount)-. Ciridlcy
Townsliip (if McLean ("ount\- and Waldo
Township of Li\ingston Count\'. form the
east hoinidary.

Two gro\es, one located in Sections 30
and 31 on the south branch of Panther
Creek, and the other two miles northeast
in Section 17 of the north branch of
Panther Creek, were the onl\- wooded
anas in the township. Both branches of
i'anther Creek begin in Waldo Township
and flow west across Panola Township;
the two branches join in Section 26 in
Cireene Township and then flow southwest
to tile Mackinaw lli\ir.

A swampy area was located in Sections
3, 10 and II in the north central area,
while another la\ in the southeast corner
of the township. Though ditches were dug.
and tile laid in increasing numbers o\er
the \ears, the drainage problem still re-
mained. The Panther Cheek Drainage Dis-
trict was organized with Peter Donner,
C^harles Fors\th and .\rcli Xethercott ap-
pointed the first commissioners. After v\-
tcnded litigation, the contracts were let
October 14. 1919, for the work of dredg-
ing, as well as straightening and widening
the channel of the south branch of the
creek, and la\ing thousands of feet of tile
for auxiliar\- drainage.

The project, which cost upwards of
.$153.()()(), began at Route 51 and extended
east to the head waters in Waldo Town-
ship. It drains oxer 12,()()0 acres in Panola.
El Pa.so, Cridle>', and Waldo townships.

The first train oxer the Illinois Central

Railroad passed through Panola, Ma>- 23,
1S53, though the station was not built un-
til later. Benajah Stockwell became the first
official station agent in Panola for the
I.(-.R.R. when it opened in early 1854.
Througli a series of promotions, he e\'entu-
all\- became the general freight agent for
the Illinois (k'ntral system.

Stockwell's first promotion must have
come earK, for N. L. Seever, the second
agent, also came to Panola in 1854. Tie was
followed in 1857 b\' Jonathan D. Parks,
who was the first master of the Panola
Lodge A.F. &,-\.M., which later moved to
El Paso in 1862. Dennis Sharp w as an em-
ployee of the railroad in 1853, and in 1854
Michael Kelly was employed as a "woods-
man" for the wood burning engines. As
Panola was located on the prairie, with two
small gro\es the only wood a\ailable, he
must have had to haul the wood from
timber areas in Greene touTiship to the
west.

Michael Krug, who came to America
from his nati\f Ba\aria in 1849, became
the operator of the railroad's first pumping
station which was located on the north
branch of Panther Creek. The family lived
in a small cabin east of the tower. They
later owned land in Section 8 west of the
railroad.

William Cr<)sle\-, who with Isaac Ham-
mers, Sr. had operated a store in Cabe-
town, moved the building to Panola in
1854; lo(;iting it west of the railroad.
Thomas Patterson was his partner for sev-
eral \ears, later selling his interest to
Samuel (;. Lewis. A second floor was
added to the building when it was mo\'ed
from Gabetown, or soon after, and in that

135

136

Woodford County History

room the Masonic Lodge was organized.
It was used as a meeting place for nian\-
years.

Simpson Y. and L\dia Barnard lived
two miles west of Panola on the stage
route between Bloomiiigton and Hano\er
(later Metamora). He was postmaster for
Josephine, (as the station was called),
which he moved to a new building in
Panola in 1853. He was postmaster there
for several years before moving back to his
land in Greene township.

A blacksmith shop and wagon factory
were built in 1856 by John Adams; Henry
Saltsman opened a hotel and lixery stable
the same year. William Tompkins" general
store began business in 1855. Tompkins
became tax assessor for the township the
same year.

The first rural mail route in Woodford
County began operation out of the Panola
post office in 1900. John C. Render was the
first carrier on the 28 mile route. He was
succeeded in 1901 by Peter Fisher who
served for 16 years. A second route was
begun on February 4, 1904 with Peter
Hauck as carrier. After the two routes were
combined in 1917, Mr. Hauck continued
as the only carrier until 1935, when the
route was discontinued from Panola, and
the area was served by carriers out of
El Paso.

The post office was usually located in a
store, with the store proprietor serving as
postmaster, though at times a private home
served as an office about ten years until
the office was closed February 1, 19.54.

Jane Nesmith was the first public school
teacher in Panola. The schoolhouse, which
was built in 1857, cost $600. The building
was moved to another location in 1913 and
a brick building was erected on the site.
After the El Paso Community Unit District
was organized in 1948, classes were held in
it for about a year. It \\'as later sold and
used for a residence.

In 1860 a grist mill, which hud bci'n in
operation on the north side of Panola for
some time, blew up with such extensive
damage it was not rebuilt. No one was in-
jured.

A coal shaft dug in 1888 struck a vein
of water at a depth of 80 feet, preventing
further digging, and the shaft was filled in.
In 1899-1900 a typhoid epidemic, which
caused several deaths, \\as attributed to
contaminated water from the well at the
depot, which was belie\ed to be the same
vein struck when the coal shaft was dug.

Fred Larison, who had an elevator in
El Paso in the early 1900's, purchased an
elevator which had been built south of the
depot, and added a lumber yard. Both
buildings burned when a gasoline engine
backfired and set fire to the elexator Aug-
ust 18, 1917. They were not rebuilt. Archie
Kingdon was manager for an elevator built
on the north side of Panola by the El Paso
Ele\ator Company about 1910. It burned
in February 1914 and uas rebuilt on the
same site. Shortly after 1 a.m. Avigust 3,
1967, this elevator also burned from an un-
known cause.

N. S. de Vries donated a plot of ground
in the southwest part of town on which the
town hall was built in 1892. A plot fifteen
feet square located South of the town hall
was purchased from John Adams in Janu-
ary 1897 for twenty dollars as a site for a
"calaboose" which was built the following
month, though the size of the structure was
not included in the minutes of the village
board.

A marshal was elected in 1896 with a
salary of $4 per month "pro\iding that at
least one saloon ficense at $500 per year
would be taken out; otherwise the village
would dispense with a marshal." License
to "run a pool table for $5 per year" and
two saloon licenses were granted, so the
marshal \\'as retained. One or more saloons
operated in Panola during most of the vil-
lage's business life.

The last general store and the post office
closed in 1954; an ele\'ator owned by the
El Paso Ele\ator Compan>- burned August
3, 1967. Storage tanks of the Woodford
County Service Company are the only
business facilit)' now in Panola, with the
distributor residing in El Paso. Only 14
residences remain in the village at the be-
ginning of 1968.

Fanola Toicnship

Joliii Brewer and his witc. Ht-hecca,
came from Oliio in 1(S36 and settled in
Section 17, the first famih' in Panola
Township. A sciiool was later located on
the northeast corner of the farm and a
group of United Brethren communicants
held services there regularh'. Two other
groups used the school for occasional serv-
ices. In 186S, the three groups built a small
parsonage two miles east of the school in
the southwest corner of Section 11, but
continued to worship in the school house.

They built the first church on tiie site
of the parsonage in 1S75 at a cost of S 1,920.
The name Shiloh was adopted. Methodists
met in several schools in the township, and,
with increasing frequencN', in tlie new
church. The niunber of Methodists in-
creased in tile township while United
Brethrt'ii diminished, so in 1899. at the re-
quest of the United Brethren, the church
came under Methodist jurisdiction. It did
not have a resident minister hut shared

137

a minister with (iridlcN. win re tiie minister
resided.

In 1909, a new frame ehureh was built
at a cost of $5,610, including furnishings.
It was dedicated Januar> 2. 1910. On May
16, 191.S. the congregation merged with the
Methodist congregation in El Paso, be-
cause ease of transportation and decrease
in population in the area had reduced
church membership. The building was .sold
for $625 on April 20. 1950 to Da\ is Broth-
ers of Minonk, who dismantled it, A me-
morial marker was placed on the site on
September 15, 1956.

A Baptist congregation was organized in
Panola in LS57; howe\er, it was about ten
years before they built a ehureh. VV. A.
Nelson was ordained there June 8, 1889.
The congregation dwindled and the church
had not been used for several years w^hen
R. L. Beshers bought it in 1912. The win-
dows in the east end of the Christian
Churih in El Paso were secured from the

rlic .Sliiliih Mitluiilist C^luirch. dedicated January 2, 1910; the congregation merged with the
First Metliodist C^hiireh, El Paso, in Ma\ 1948. The building was razed in 1951. It was located
on the site of a former I'nited Brethren Church, hnilt in 1875.

138

Woodford Cuiinli/ Ilisloiij

Panola church when it was dismantled.
The hell was installed in the to\\er of the
Evangelical United Brethren Church in
El Paso in time for the Thanksgiving serv-
ice in 1911.

A group of Methodists had a class at
Panola in 1857, one of seven such groups
which met in the freight house on Novem-
ber 6 and 7. 1857, for a quarterly confer-
ence. Zadok Hall, a pioneer Methodist
minister, presided. The Panola group later
became part of other Methodist congrega-
tions and never built a church in Panola.

Porter Bassett bought the freight house
years later and mo\ed it to his farm on
Panther creek, near St. Mary's cemetery.
It was remodelled for a barn, and is still in
use.

The Baughman cemeter\- in the north-
west corner of Section 3, was deeded to the
Cemetery Association on December 29,
1877 by John Baughman. One-half of the
acre plot was a gift; the rest was purchased
by the association.

Rev. Msgr. Murray V. Haas

Murray V. Haas, son of Ralph and Anna
Murray Haas, was born July 20, 1912. and
received his grade school education at the
Pauley school in Panola township. Later
he attended St. Bede's Academy, Peru; St.
Louis Preparatory Seminary; and Kenrick
Seminary. He was ordained June 6, 1937,
in St. Mary's Cathedral, Peoria, by the
Most Re\erend J. H. Schlarman, D.D.

His first assignment was as chaplain at
St. Joseph's, Wedron, Illinois, where he
served a year before going to Peoria as as-
sistant pastor at St. Marys Cathedral. He
became pastor of that church in April, 1944
and serxed until 1967 — a total of o\er 29
years in that parish. In 1967 he became
pastor of St. Bernard's parish in Peoria.

George W. Krug, Sr.

George Krug was one of the earliest
farmers in this area to realize the impor-
tance of selection of seed in order to pro-
duce a better corn crop. Seeking a higher
yield from his Panola Township farm, as

early as 1906 he began selecting ears from
strong, standing stalks, approximately four
feet from the ground. During the winter
the ears were checked for weight, smooth-
ness and starch content. In 1919, encour-
aged by M. L. Moser, Woodford County
farm adviser, he entered the County Farm
Bureau yield test. In 1920 and 1921, he
won top honors among 118 growers who
entered the tests. Krug's utility type com
became the most widely used open-polli-
nated corn in the area and many persons
grew and sold it for seed, though he never
received a royalty for the use of his name.
Mr. Krug was born January 21, 1879, on
the Krug farm in Section 18, and spent his
life there. He was a son of Michael and
Katherine Benson Krug, who came to
Panola in January 1857. He married Louisa
Bayer of Minonk, March 4, 1904. Mr.
Kmg died July 25, 1942.

ll>britl seed com pioneer — Lester Pfister.

Lester Pfister

The fact that George Krug, a pahistaking
corn breeder, lived less than five miles
from Lester Pfister's home, and was readily
available for discussion on common prob-
lems, and that M. L. \K)ser lount)' agent,

Panohi Tounship

encouraged tlu'in l)()tli. were two things
that contrihuted to Pfisters consuming
interest in corn breeding. Bi'giiining
with open-pollinated \arieties, (including
Krug's) he continued experiments in eross-
lireeding and selection of promising in-
breds in an eflort to produce a hybrid
strain that wo'.dd be a better producer. It
was time and labor consuming work, otteu
handicapped b\- limited funds and lack ol
understanding from less imaginati\e men
of the community.

In 1926. he I'utered Krug corn in tlie
Iowa \ield tests and recei\ed top iionors.
Ten >ears later he was marketing his
famous .36!) and .366 strains, la\ing the
foundation for his recognition as an out-
standing producer of h\brid seed, which
has re\oluti()ni/ed corn production. Keep-
ing pace with his corn production, Pfisters
ingenious mechanical ability has produced
a long list of aids to agriculture; some of
them, created for com production or pro-
cessing. ha\ing been adapted to other
crops as well.

The business has grown through the
years. .At the home farm in Section 27, a
double building is the seed house, there
is a sorting shed and a drier, with large
underground \aults where foundation seed
is stored. In 1940 the company acfjuired
the fomier canning factory- on Route 51 in
El Paso, remodelling it for their special
needs; on Jul)' 2, 1941, the\ purchased the
former Beshers building on Route 24 and
conxcrfed it into offices. The grading
building WTSt of the old warehouse was
built in 1964. and the large steel warehouse
was added in the same area in 1967.

The compan\' had 6,511 acres in c.dtixa-
tion in 1967. The family owns 1653 acres
and in addition. 4S5S acres were either
rented and farmed b\' Pfister company em-
ployees: or the corn was raised under con-
tract with the farmer.

Lester Pfister was born JuK 6, LS97, in
Panola Township, a son of John and Emma
(Haas) Pfister, and married Helen \()gel;
they had eight children, two of whom died
in infancy. Their three sons, Jerry, Walter,

1.39

and Dan, now carrx tlii' major responsibili-
ties tor the complex operation.

Some Others and Their .Activities

Dr. (iustiuus Buttler w.is educated in
Dresden, and graduated in Leipsic in
1859. He came to El Paso in 1S66 and after
sexeral years mo\ed to Panola, when' he
practiced medicine o\er 40 years. In the
lS9()'s and varW 190()"s. he ser\ed at \ari-
ous times us president or clerk ot tlie vil-
lage board, and police magistrate.

Horace T. .Allen was the first towiisiiip
clerk; Henry Saltsmau. who operated the
hotel, was the first township police magis-
trate. Le\i Hodgson, who settled on Sec-
tion 2S in 1S56. reported llier<' were only
16 families in the township at tiiat time.

Two elevators were built in Panola at
an earh' date — one at the soulii and the
other at the north. Jno. Evans owned one.
F. S. Larison purchased the one on the
south.

George and Carl Krug produced tm-keys
— from four to six thousand annually — be-
tween about 1930 to 1948.

W. H. Gardner. Lewis Geiger. Henry
Hall and John Ward were earh residents
who raised livestock. John Stonebraker
(who dii'd in 1S87) speciali/ed in pure-
bred Duroc Jersey hogs. Gailowav cattle
and Nonnan horses were popular for some
years, but later Shorthorn, and .Angus cat-
tle, and Percheron horses replaced them.
Sam Schertz, James Holt, John Koch were
among stock breeders in the earh' 1900's.

Many farmers "sell their corn on the
hoof" through the feeding of hogs and/or
steers, (the latter usualh' shipped in), but
hogs more freejucntly are localh produced.
Harold and Melvin Knig are among pres-
ent da\' producers. Gene and Fabian Haas,
Dean Hell, Lawrence Guard, Stanley Kel-
sey, Alfred Stimpert, Gene and Glenn
Schert/, are among those in the township
who are regular cattle feeders,

Clement Stokes and son, Leo, ha\ e pure-
bred -Angus cattle. Southdown sheep, and
Hampshire hogs. Leo has exhibited the
stock regularly at local and state fairs, and

140

has also had bkie rihlwin winni-rs at the
International Li\estock Show in Chicago
a number of times. Participation in 4-H
Club and Future Farmers programs have
contrilnited to their success, as it has with
others in the area.

Though Panola, township or \illage. is
small, the name has appeared a number of
times in the listing of those \\'ho have
achieved success in various fields. The list
would include Dr. Richard Ostler Scho-
field, whose research into the causes of
heat stroke while he was chief surgeon
and medical adviser for the companies en-
gaged in the Hoover Dam project, resulted
in the wide use of salt tablets by those who
work in excessive heat.

Dr. James J. Sheppard (1S68-1914) pi-
oneered in the field of commercial educa-
tion at the high school level; his most ex-
tensi\ e work being done in New York City.

Orville F. Haas, son of Peter W. and
Mary Hauck Haas, became vice-president
of the General Electric Company in 1946,
ha\'ing responsibility for the company's
activities and products in six states, with
headquarters at Philadelphia.

Gus Raymond, (1900-1967) spent his
boyhood in Panola, where he became in-
terested in electronics through friendship
with a radio ham operator. In 1950 he
supervised the moving of the Western
Electric plant from Chicago to Indianapo-
lis, Indiana, without ceasing tlie operation
of the plant, which manufactures tele-
phone instruments and parts, "He dis-
mantled one plant, built and equipped an-
other while training workers in a third
plant," according to a newspaper accoimt.
He was vice-president of Western Electric
when he retired. He died in Punta Gordo,
Florida, June 2, 1967.

Woodford County Histonj

A Tale of Violence

David J. Hedges built a fence across a
public highway adjoining Section 9, which
was taken down several times by neigh-
bors. On May 9, 1S68, he was relniilding
it when a neighbor, George W. Kingston,
Jr., tried to dissuade him, finally taking a
revolver from Hedges and starting across
the field to his o\\'n home, located in the
southeast 80 acres. Hedges followed him,
armed with a hatchet. When the argument
started again, Kingston struck Hedges with
a spade he carried and Hedges soon died.
Kingston was charged with manslaughter
and, after many delays, was brought to
trial August 13, 1869. He was acquitted on
the grounds of self-defense, but the high
costs of the case and the resulting publicity
caused Kingston to leave the community,
where he had always had a good reputa-
tion. An El Paso law firm, IngersoU, Cas-
sell. Burns, and Harper defended him.

Closely Associated with El Paso

Residents of Panola township have
shared in practically all of tiie community
concerns of El Paso. Panola businesses
were very limited, and b>' the beginning
of 196S. nonexistent. The majority of the
township has been included in the El Paso
Community Unit School District No. 375
since 1948, and the Fire Protection District
since 1963. Since the Shiloh Methodist
Church merged with the El Paso congre-
gation, there has been no church in the
township. Most of the area is co\ered by
mail delivery from the El Paso post office.
A continued improvement of roads in the
township has made contacts easier and
more frequent. So, for all these reasons and
perhaps others. El Paso has become Panola
township's town, at least for most of its
residents.

Partridw Townsl
by

111)

Mus. Hi(;h Mac:millan and Mus. Fhwk Poignant

Ix 1852, rxDEH CovERNMi;NTsiint'\. Wood-
lord ('ount\' was tornicd into townships.
At tliat timf. Township 2<S N'orth, Range 3
WVst. which hi's in the nortliwest corner
of the count) . took tlie name Partridge be-
cause of its association with a Potawatomi
Indian chief. Rlack Partridge. It was of-
ficiall) incorporated witli the other clcxcn
to\\nshi[)s in 1S55. Partridge Townsliip is
hounded on the ucst side h\- tlie llUnois
Ki\er and on tlie north hy Marshall
(bounty; to tile east lies (,'a/eno\ia Town-
sliip and to the south. Worth 'i'ownship.

The flood plain of the Illinois co\ers
many acres in Partiidge. Bordering this
l)laiii, which is locally referred to as the
"river bottom" or the "x alle\-," are steep
bluffs and hills co\ cred with timber. Wind-
ing through these hills are se\eral creeks,
notably Snag, Richland, and Partridge,
making their wa\' to the Illinois Ri\er. As
is usuallv characteristic of hill streams,
these can quickly become ragiiig torrents
after a good rain, and then, just as quickK'
subside.

For many years, liundri'ds of acres co\-
ered b\- the Hood plain were of little \alue
as farming land. In the past 50 years, how-
e\er, artificial drainage has been employed
and much of this drained land has made
excellent farm land. Behind the bluffs, a
great deal of territory' which was woodland
has, o\ i"r the years, been cleared and is
now under cultivation.

Partridge is a fractional township, and
although it cannot compare with others in
the county in agricultural resources, it does
ix),s,sess a wealth of natural beauty and a
rich and earl\- history. Its geographical
make-up made it ideal for the Indian. The
lulls and woodland provided a good hunt-

ing ground for him, the rivi-r provided fish,
the many springs gave him fi(>sh water,
and near them he built his w igwam or hut.

Rut there was a ci\ ili/ation long before
that. It is interesting now to note in the
book, Histoiy of Woodford County ])rinted
in LS78. these words about Partridge:
"Here, tradition informs us, the Mound
Builders once existed, and many traces and
relics of this wondertul people are still to
be found in this region. .\ number of these
mounds were surveyed b\- scientific men,
but we do not know what report they
made of their iinestigations. It is not likely
that anything will ex'er be known of this
strange race.

It is now 1968, and we have seen tre-
mendous changes that ha\e been made in
yU >ears, resulting in what we call the "jet
age." These changes hav'c included archae-
ological advancements as well, and today
more is known about this "strange race."
A report from the Illinois Archaeological
Survey informs us that these mounds in
Partridge Township appear to date from
the Middle Woodland Period. Thus, they
would have an antiquity of about 2,000
years. The members of this survey, who
work in cooperation with the University of
Illinois, state that thev' have only just
scratched the surface in their search for
knowledge about prehistoric Illinois his-
tory. How much easier it is for us to trace
the histon of Partridge Townshi]> to the
early 1800"s, beginning with the Indian
chief whose name is so well known in this
end of the countv.

R\' the close of the ISth eenturv, the
Potawatomi Indians who were originally
from the north, had moved into northeast-
ern Illinois. They had a number of villages

141

142

on the Illinois Ri\'er and its tributaries, he-
ginning north of what is now Peoria, and
on up past the month of the Fox Ri\'er.

The village of which Black Partridge was
chief consisted of some 30 to 40 wigwams
scattered between Partridge and Richland
creeks. Authorities do not agree as to the
exact location of the chief's headcjuarters,
for some place it just north of the Richland
school, while others ha\e it located a few
hundred yards below the school, near a big
spring. There seems to be no doubt, though,
that die village was a prosperous one, the
wigwams were larger than a\erage and
substantially built.

Like many of the Indian chiefs of that
day. Black Partridge tra\'eled widely by
pony and canoe, and one can find his name
on several land cession treaties.

At Ft. Dearborn, which is now Chicago,
was a trading post established by John
Kinzie, whose step-daughter was the wife
of Lt. Helm, second in command of the

111 tliu lobb> ot tliu Chicago liistorical Society
Library is a bronze statue placed there many
years ago. It consists of several life-sized figures,
including two Indian men and one white woman.
The one Indian is shown, with uplifted tomahawk,
about to strike down the woman, Mrs. Helm, and
the Indian coming to her rescue is Black Partridge.

Woodford County Ilistonj

fort. Many of the Indians, including Black
Partridge, were on \ery friendly terms w ith
the Kinzie famih' with whom they did their
trading, and Black Partridge visited often
in the Kinzie home. Because of this friend-
ship, Mrs. Helm's life was sa\'ed during the
Ft. Dearborn massacre in 1812. Black Part-
ridge knew^ the fort was going to be at-
tacked, and although he and several other
chiefs disapproxed, they were outnum-
bered by the young warriors who beliexed
that the British would olter them gold in
exchange for capturing Ft. Dearborn.
Black Partridge warned the Kinzies of the
coming attack, but during the flight for
safety to Ft. Waxne, many of the fort's
residents were massacred. Lt. Helm, how-
ever, was captured and taken to an Indian
village near the an Sable ri\er where he
was held for ransom.

During this period of the British War,
there was much unrest between the Indians
and the territorial authorities, and each
regarded the other with suspicion. Two
months after the Ft. Dearborn massacre,
Go\'. Edwards sent troops to the Peoria
area because of a rumor that the Indians
were gathering for the purpose of making
a raid against the frontier settlements to
the south. At this point, one account states
that the troops headed purposely for the
village of Black Partridge because it sup-
posedly was the center of Indian disaffec-
tion; another states that the troops learned
from a trapper as the>' were coming north
through Bloomington, that Black Partridge
was away seeking to ransom Lt. Helm from
the Indians on the au Sable, and that his
other warriors were off on a hunting trip,
thus lea\'ing the \ illage unprotected, ^^■rit-
ers do agree on the main aspects of the
attack — the Indians were taken b\- sui-prise,
and could make no effective resistance.
The troops came down in two di\ isions,
one sweeping down the point south ot the
Richland School, and the otlier some 30 or
more rods below. The result was a massacre
of defenseless old men, women and chil-
dren. The ^'illage was burned, including
great stores of corn, beans, dried meat and
furs. The ponies were taken awa>', as were

Partridg.e Township

143

many lirass kettles, ami (luantities of sil\ cr
and ornaments.

Ha\ insi seenred the release of Lt. Helm.
Blaek I'artridg(> lu'aded for his \ illage and
on his aiii\al was greeted in tliis scene of
wanton destnietion. That lie shonld have
heeotne embittered and desirons of re\enge
was to he expected. For a time after that,
he went ahont enlisting the aid of other
Indians, and in IM.'l the\- made a fntile
attempt to prevent tile L'. S. .\rm\- from
Iniilding Ft. Clark (Peoria). The old chief
then w isel\' decidi'd to sue for peace. For
the rest of hi.s life, he remained lo\al to the
treat\- he signed in St. Louis in Deeemher,
iS13. It is belie\-ed 1)\' man\ that he died
in eitlicr 1SI9 or '20. and that lie was buried
somewhere near his i)cl()\ed \ illage b\- the
big spring.

Tlie first white man to live in this area
was here at the time of the Indian chief's
death. There seems to be little doubt that
he was a man named Bhulock, although it
is not known wher(> he came from or where
\\v wi'iU after he left this area. He was
found ii\ing near a stream, still known as
Bla\ lock Creek, in what is now Section 31.
-Although there ha\e been man>' tales told
about him, some undoubtedly exaggerated,
the\- all tend to indicate he and his famih
were li\ ing in the style of thc^ Indians.
Their home was a thatched hut. tliex wore
buckskins, and they hunted and fished for
th(>ir food. Blaylock did not sta\- to make a
settlement. .After a few years, it is said that
he lelt with a b.uid ol Intlians when they
departed for the west.

Some of the first pionei'rs w ho settled in
Partridge Towaiship in the early 1830"s,
were Francis .\\ers, 'Hed" Jo Belsle\-, Jos.
K. Johnson. Louis deCJuibert. Philip Bet-
telyune, John M. Klingman, Daniel and
Samuel Hedlock, Dan Sowards, Benjamin
Younger. John Sharp, Channc\- Baker, and
John and Isaac Sn\der.

ProbabK the first actual settlement in
Partridge was made b\- Francis .A\ers, who
came b\- wa\- of Ohio, although he was
born and reared in New Hampshire. He
built a cabin near Metaniora in 1830, but

after a \ear sold it and mo\ cd to the Part-
ridge Creek bottom.

.\fter .\\res, came 'Bed" Jo Belsle\. Mr.
Belsle\-. coming from France, also went
first to OinO before coming to Illinois. .Al-
though land was cheap in Ohio, it was
e\en cheaper here. For at that time the
greater part of Illinois was uninhabited,
even unsur\e\ed, and ground was sold by
the go\-ernment to the frontiersman for
$1.25 an acre. .\Ir. Belsle\- made claim to a
tract on Partridge Creek, later sold it to
Joseph Johnson, and h(> settled then in
Worth close to the Partridge line.

Mr. Johnson came from Penns\l\ania,
stayed for a while in Ohio, and then came
to Partridge in 1833. .After bu\ing Mr. Bel-
sle\'s land, he soon became a prominent
man in the settlement, ojierating and own-
ing both a saw null and a grist mill. He was
also the first blacksmith in the area.

In 1833. Mr. Louis dcCiiiibert came from
France anil settled in Partridge, .spending
his first night at "Red" Jo Belsley's. Mr.
deCuibert had served as a soldier under
Napoleon, and had fought in the battles of
.Austerlitz, Nina and \\'agran. Because of
his courage he was made Che\alier of the
Legion of Honor. This was presiMitcd to
him on the battlefield by Napoleon himself.
During his childhood, Mr. deCuibert had
witnessed the French Revolution, later he
enlisted as a private soldier and rose to the
rank of captain of the infantiy. He had
marched and fought o\'cr half of Europe,
had watched the death of half of his com-
pany before a single discharge of artillery
at Aiisterlitz, and in another engagement
was one of eight snr\i\ors of a compain- of
71 men.

He came here, then, in LS33, to a pioneer
settlemi'Ut where he endured all the hard-
ships accompanying the life of a frontiers-
man. But, he was a man of excellent mind
and humor, and like so man\- of the
pioneers, was richly endowed with de-
termination and courage. He had brought
workmen with him from France, and by
the following year had built a saw mill
which was long known as the Old French
Mill. He lived to see his labors well re-

144

Woodford County History

warded and became a man of comfortable
wealth before his death in 1S66. His son,
Louis A. Jr., married Lizzie Hoshor, the
daughter of another prominent pioneer,
and to this marriage were born eight chil-
dren. It has been said by some of the pres-
ent residents who are descendents of early
Partridge settlers, that to know the history
of the deGuiberts is to know the history
of Partridge Township.

Associated also with much of the early
history of the township were the Snyders.
Nicholas Snyder and his wife came from
Germany with their two sons, John and
Isaac, and a daughter, Elizabeth. After a
time in New York, they came to Illinois
and settled south of Spring Bay in 1828,
where several more children were born.
John, at an early age, came to Partridge
Township, and began clearing and farming
land. His brother, Isaac, as soon as he was
old enough, also acquired land in Partridge
and made his home here for many years.

Several other settlers came from Pennsyl-
vania, such as John Clingman, Philip Bet-
telyune, George Ruckle, and Chauncey
Baker.

In 1960, when he was 87 years old, Mr.
John C. Snyder of Metamora, whose par-
ents were John and Loxina Baker Sn>'der,
wrote the following account of his grand-
father, Chauncey Baker. "About 1834,
Grandfather Baker walked from Pennsyl-
vania to Illinois and took up a claim east
of Chillicothe, built a cabin during the
summer and in the fall walked back to
Pennsylvania. Then, the ne.xt spring, he
loaded his famiK' in a one-horse wagon and
again walked (there was no room on the
wagon to ride) back to Illinois. Later he
built a two-stors" house which was the best
in the neighborhood at that time. In this
home he raised quite a large family of
which my mother was second oldest. I still
have the rifle carried on this trip which
Grandfather used to kill game along the
trail for food."

The Bettelyunes settled in Partridge in
1836. Some years later, Mrs. Bettelyune,
recalling some of their early experiences,
said that saplings were cut to build their

cabin, and that mud was used for the fire-
places and chimneys. She boarded wood-
choppers, and because of the great supply
of wild game, a wild turkey could be killed
before breakfast and ser\ed for dinner.

From other accounts we leani that in the
cabin the door was frequently also tlie only
window. Sometimes a log was left out to
admit light and a slab was supplied to put
o\'er it when necessary. Later, a space was
cut purjDosely, and oiled or greased paper
placed over it to let in light. Needless to
say, there was plenty of ventilation.

It was during the early thirties that the
Federal government sought to clear the
Indians from the country east of the Mis-
sissippi and transfer them to the public
lands in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. Fi-
nally, on September 28, 1833 in Chicago
where some 8,000 Chippewa, Ottawa and
Potawatomi Indians had assembled, their
chiefs signed a treaty with the U. S. Com-
missioners by which the\' relincjuished all
claim to their lands. With the Indian men-
ace removed, hordes of immigrants from
the East began pouring into the Middle
West, almost without cessation.

During the township's early years, the
recording of births, death and marriages
sometimes went no further than the family
Bible. Until 1841 when ^\'oodford County
was formed, the Partridge area was part
of Tazewell County, and because of the
distance in\'ol\'ed, its early records in that
county seat undoubtcdh* are not complete.

The first white child born in Partridge
Township is supposed to ha\'e been a Wal-
ter Cheeny, bom in 1834. The first marriage
was between Francis Ayres" daughter,
Phoebe, and John Sharp in 1833. The first
death, in 1832, was that of an elderly man
named Gingrigh. During the winter of
1836-37, however, a sad incident occinred
which was talked about and long remem-
bered by the early settlers. A farmer named
Butler and his daughter froze to death in
the woods near their home. They had left
their house in the morning to go after some
cattle which apparently had strayed. The
weather was (juite mild, and the snow had
begun to melt. Then, it started to rain, and

Partridge Tounslii))

145

a few liours later as (atlicr and daiit;llter
were retiiniiim witli their eattle, the
weather turned suddenl\ eold. ActorcUnt;
to tlie old "'Woodford (.'oiint\' History,"
it turned cold as "CJreenland's ic\' moun-
tains." The two were found sexerai days
latiT, frozen to death, tlieir elothiusi and
lower linihs thickly co\ered with ice. l"lieir
bodies were doubled up and therefore liad
to he put into large boxes until the weatiicr
permitted them to be buried decently.
'I'hey were buried a tew rods from the old
Talbot Hoshor place which is on the farm
presentK owned b\ Dr. Joseph Herman.

Schools

The first children born in the township
probably recei\cd little or no formal edu-
cation. It took all of a tamih's resources
and time simpK- to snr\i\e. Before school
houses were built, children were taught in
till' home by teachers who boarded with
the tamilies and who were often paid in
produce when there was no money. The
first of these teachers is said to ha\e been
a man named Plummer, w ho taught a while
at tlu' home of Francis Ayres. Where the
first log school house was built is not
known, for as the story goes, some claim
it was built near I^ichlaud Creek in 1S45,
while others sa\- it was built near Partridge
Creek. Where\'er it was, it was taught by
a Mar\- Curr}-. The first meeting of the
school tnistees — Harlow Barney, Samuel
Hedlock and H. M. Curry — was held on
the 27th of \o\ember, IS 44.

By the 1860s, the township's three school
houses were all good frame buildings. In
1S61, Jefferson Hoshor. the townships first
superx isor, deeded ground in Section 14 on
wiiich the Richland School was built. In
September of ]S6.'3, the Partridge School
was built on land deeded In- Isaac Snyder
in Section 29. Tlie Brush Hill School was
built in 186S in Section 2.5 on land deeded
!)>■ .Miner Mundell. It was destro\ed by
fire, and in 1SS5. John H. Rediger deeded
land in Section .36 for a new school which
was named Oakcnwald. In 1921, the Rich-
laud School was also destroyed by fire, but
was rebuilt at the same location.

In 1.S7S the records ol the Township
Treasurer, .\le.\ander Bonlier, showed that
there wi're 167 pupils between the ages of
6 and 21, and that there were .3 teachers
employed. The highest monthly wage paid
was .$42 and the lowest was $30. Today the
one-room school hou.se is a thing of the
past. The Partridge School was sold in
1948, and the Oakcnwald School in 1955.
Both are now used for homes. In 1953, the
Richland School was purchased by the
Township for use as a Town Hall.

The schools often ser\ed as churches,
with traveling or \ isiting preachers giving
the sermons. .\s far as can be ascertained,
the township ilid not ha\ f a church build-
ing within its limits until 1900. In that
year, Jacob Wagner and his wife conxeyed
land in Section 2.S to the trustees of the
Church of Christ. The church was built by
Mr. Amos Q. W'ilson of Secor, who was a
preacher as well as carpenter. He had been
preaching in the Partridge School house
since 18S4. The church was dedicated in
October 1900 and Mrs. Emma Jones, a
daughter of Jacob Wagner, stated recently
that she was manied at the dedication. In
his deed to the church, Mr. Wagner had
included several stipulations. One was that
failure to hold religious meetings there by
the Church of Christ for a period of three
years would be considered an abandon-
ment of the premises, and the owner would
have the right to repossess the property.
Unfortunately, this came to pass despite
the efforts of a few to keei> the church
going. The Wagner property had been sold
in the meantime to a Mr. Traver, and in
1928 or 1929, the chtuch was taken down.

Tlie first settlers did not ha\e much
money and had little chance for getting
more. For a while when more grain was
produced than they could use, it went to
waste for there was no market. Although
many things could be obtained by trading,
there were times when the lack of actual
money was keenl\- felt. .\n\ mail the set-
tlers receixc'd had to be picked up in Peoria
and paid for. The price of the letter was
determined 1)\ the distance it had come,
and generally was about fwcuty-fi\c cents.

146

Woodford County History

Man\' times the settler was liard put to
l)n)cluee this amount in siKer and tlie letter
would ha\e to wait until the money could
be obtained. Soon, however, steamboats
began to appear on the Illinois Ri\'er, pick-
ing up and delivering products, and mar-
kets for grain and stock were established
at se\'eral points, including Peoria ( which
was still Ft. Clark ) , Spring Bay and Pekin.
Many a load of grain was hauled even as
far as Chicago if the market was too low-
other places, and during cold weather hogs
were driven to tlie same market. When the
ice was strong enough in winter, hogs and
cattle as well as loads of grain were dri\'en
across the river to Chillicothe. Just as he
does now, the farnier tried to sell where he
could get the best price. But, in his day,
with the slowness of travel and the lack of
communication, he sometimes arri\'ed at
the market expecting a good price, only to
find that the market had fallen. Since he
had to dispose of his load, he would settle
for a price which was lower than he had
expected.

Chillicothe Ferry

Aroimd 1849 a ferry was nmning be-
tween Allentown, which was a mile south
of present Chillicothe city limits, and a

point located where the Woodford County
Public Hunting and Fishing Area is now.
This operation apparently did not last very
long for very little is known about it. In
about IS56 another ferr\' began operating
in the channel between Chillicothe and
Chillicothe Island. The island was about
160 acres and a part of Partridge Township,
although separated from it by a branch of
the Illinois River which was called the East
River. There one crossed a bridge to the
island and Uience to the channel, where
they waited for the ferry to come over and
pick them up. The feiTy was attached to a
cable which was anchored on both sides
of the channel. For many years a horse was
used with a treadmill which pulled the
boat across, and for a while, a small motor-
powered boat was used to pull the ferry.
The Chillicothe Ferry, Road and Bridge
Company operated this feny for many
years, and also maintained the le\'ee road.
The ferry, of course, brought business to
the Chillicothe merchants. Other roads be-
ing almost non-existent (or undependable)
at that time, the ferry was used by many
Partridge residents, as well as those from
W'ashbuni, to haul their grain to the Chil-
licxjthe ele\'ators. and to bring supplies
from town. A fern- report dated May 1905,

Ferry beU\een Chillicothe and Partridge Township.

P(iitri(l<i,c Ton iiship

147

sliows tliat 176 single rigs. To clouhlc rigs,
134 footmen, 21 cattle, 3 hor.se.s and 75
tickets (commuter) were taken across. The
caslt taken in was $65.10.

Rameyville

During the earl\ LS7()'s (ieorgc" liame\
oijerated a store east ol (lie levee road on
ground now part ot the Harold Poignant
farm. He kept a general assortment of
goods, saving man\- a trip (o town. Nearby
was also a blacksmith shop; this area for
sometime being known as Kameyxille. The
store was used as a pick-up for mail as
well, tor when auNone went o\er to Chil-
lieothe, he woiild [lick up any Partridge
mail, and lea\c it at .Mr. Hamex's store.
Some \'ears earlier, when mail was carried
on horseback from Lacon to Spring Ba\,
any letters for Partridge residents were
dropped off at the Chaunce\- f5aker place.

By this time, there were several black-
smith sho|is in the area. .\n 1873 map
shows one in Section 15 on the lienjamin
'I'ounger place, and one in Section 25 on
the j. \f. Clingman place, .\bout one-hall
mile west of the present i'artridge School
was a mill operated hv Isaac Snvder and
liom an old newspaper aeeomil we have
this description. "The mill was a two-stor\-
Irame building about 35x40 feet; it was
openited In the power ()bl;iined Irom a
big over-shot water wheel at one side of
the structure, ft was also the favorite meet-
ing place of ni;my ol llir inliabitants of the
conntn-side, and many were the horse-
races and poker games that were held
there."

One of tile restdts of better roads and
the growth of the towns, was the gradual
disappearance ol these familiar sights from
(he landscape. Thi' blacksmith shop prob-
ablv' staved longt'r than the others, for in
the rural area, the horse and buggy were
still h;mdv- items to have around even
though the Motor .\ge had come. More
than one Old Dobbin was used to haul a
\lodel-T out of the nuid. Hv 1921 it was
no longer profitable to keep the C.'hillicothe
Ferr\' running, ;ind its operation ceased.
But it is still well remembered bv many of

the areas residents, and todav portions of
the old Ferry Road can be seen from the
farm now owned bv' Lerov' Bennington,

One familiar sight of earlier da\s, which
i.s now rarely seen and which undoublcdlv
is not missed, is that of the f;u-mer driigging
the road — a job he could look forward to
every spring and after every r;iiu. In an
old Partridge record book we note that in
March, bSy.S, an\- abk'-bodiid man over 21
and under 50 was subject to a tax of $1.50
if he failed to do his share of road work.
Until 1918, Partridge had three commis-
sioners of liighwavs.

The gr;ulual imjirov cment of the roads
and particularlv the black-topping in 1937-
39 of State Route 87 (changed this vear
to State 26) probably contributed the most
toward changing the social life of the com-
mimitv. Before that time, most of the
recreation and social entertainment were
cre;ited b\' the residents themselves. The
school houses held many a box social, 1th
of July celebi-ations, and (,'hristmas and
New Year's parties. In the winter there was
ice-skating, and in the summer there was
good fishing from the levee, hi IDecember
1911, in order to raise funds for the animal
Christmas tree at the Richland School, 15
ladies of the vicinity accepted the offer
of Clarence dcGuibert to pa\' them 3c a
bushel for all the corn the ladies husked.
The ladies went into the field at 8 o'clock
in the morning, two of them husking to a
wagon, and by 3 o'clock had 600 bushels
husked and cribbed. Hose deCiuibert and
(^lara Hunter were the champions, bring-
ing in 107 bushels.

In 1889, the Louis .\. deCiuibert, jr., farm
residence was c()m])leti'd. It was built on
the family propertv just niirlli ol the Hieh-
land School, and at that time was said to
be one of the finest frame residences in
the county. There was always lots of ac-
liv ity centered around the deC^.iiibert house.
.After a few vears, Mr. deCuibert had a
building put up a little north of his home
to be used for reer(>ational piuposes. It
came to be known as the Midvvav pavilion,
or simply, the Midway. Baseball games
were played there, and manv scpiare ckmees

148

were held. Saturday night was apt to be a
hvely night at the Midway. After Mr. de-
Guibert's death, his daughter Rose, and
her hu.sband, John Eiben, lived with Mrs.
deGuibert. They kept up the tradition of
encouraging social actixity in the area.
Mr. Eiben had Louis Poignant, a neighbor,
build a track west of the house across the
road, where the farmers raced their horses
and probably did a little wagering on the
side. E\'entually, the Midway was taken
down. A little closer to the deGuibert home,
John Eiben had a one-room building put
up which was used as sort of a meeting
place, and many a ix)ker game was played
there, just as there was in Isaac Snyder's
mill many years before. In 1951 this build-
ing was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Pete DeCon-
nick, who enlarged and modernized it, and
it is now the Midway Duck Inn.

In January 1944, the deGuibert home
was completely destroyed by fire. It had
become such a landmark that the loss of
it was felt by many of the area's residents.
The house had contained much of the
furniture and furnishings brought from
France by Louis deGuibert, Sr., as well as
his medals, documents and honors. Many
items which were of great historical \alue
went up in smoke that day.

"Proposed " Railroad

More than once, just as they did in other
towns, the rumors flew around that a rail-
road was going to be built through the
area, and the local papers would contain
items about engineers hax'ing been seen
headed this way to make surveys. A plat of
Partridge Township in an 189.3 Atlas does,
in fact, show a "proposed railroad" route,
running somewhat parallel and to the west
of the present state highway. In 1SS7 the
Santa Fe was surveying and locating stakes
from Crow Greek down to Spring Bay with
the thought of relocating their bridge o\er
the Illinois River, and whether or not these
two incidents are related is not known.

In 1910 both Partridge and Spring Bay
residents entertained the hope of getting
the McKinley syndicate to build an electric
interurban road througli the territory this

Woodford County History

side of the river. A large and enthusiastic
meeting was held at the Spring Ba> Hall,
but nothing more seems to be known about
this project.

A man named F. W. Cherry came
through this area in 1911 and obtained
right-of-way options from some of the resi-
dents in exchange for which they recei\'ed
stock in the "Milwaukee Peoria, and St.
Louis R.R. Co." From the Marshall County
Historical Society, the following informa-
tion appeared in an article written in 1964
about Lacon's hope of getting a railroad.
"Around the turn of the century and for
several decades later, a promoter named
Cherry made sporadic visits to the city
and on each occasion fanned the embers
of hope. He made at least one trip to
Europe looking for capital. The money was
not forthcoming, either here or abroad, and
Cherry's visits came at longer intervals,
then ceased. The graying embers of hope
died." Those of Partridge residents died
likewise.

Drainage District

In 190.3 a movement was started to re-
claim the land by the formation of the Part-
ridge Drainage District, which hoped to
reclaim se\'eral thousands of acres of
swamp land in the township. By 1909, a
le\ee 20 feet high had been built and a
pumping plant capable of throwing out a
million gallons of water an hour was com-
pleted. Unless an unusually high stage of
water should occur, it was felt that now the
land was protected and could be culti-
vated. The test was not long in coming.
In May of that same year, the unusually
high stage of water was reached, and the
bottoms as well as the pumping plant were
flooded. The commissioners of the Drain-
age District resigned, thousands of dollars
had been spent, and several years of work
had been undone by the flood.

However, new commissioners were
named to try and continue the work. Their
first job was to locate the two dredges
working on the project for they had dis-
appeared. It was learned that the owners
had moved the dredges to Jersey County,

Partridge Township

149

\vhprt'U[^)n the attoriun' for tlir district and
one of its commissioners went down to
s('r\e attachments on the hoats. They se-
cured the seniees of a dcpiit) slieriff to
make the attachments, and he and the com-
missioner rowed out to tlie dredt^es in a
skiff. UntortunateK'. tlie ratiier over-gener-
ous weiglit of the deput\ caused the skiff
to sink, Imt undeterred, he swam tlie rest
of tlie way and served the writs. In Jul\- of
the following year, the two dredges were
back in Partridge, clearing out the difclies,
and trying to repair the damage caused !)>•
the flood.

During the period from 1905 to 1910. a
nmnher of suits in\ oK ing submerged lands
had been filed against the Chicago Sanitary'
District by Partridge landowners. The Chi-
cago Sanilar\- and Ship Canal had been
completed in 1900, reversing the current
of tlie Chicago Ri\ er and causing its sew-
age to be taken awa\- from Lake Miihigan
and carried instead In the Illinois to the
Mississippi. The landowners held them re-
sjx)nsible for the damage done to their
groimd.

The first case to come to trial in the
Circuit Court in Eureka \s as that of R. F.
Zinzer in September of 1910. It was an un-
usual one in that it not only was tried 1)\
elexen jurors instead of twcKe, but it en-
joyed the dubious honor of being the long-
est case e\cr tried in the couut\'. Fift\-fi\-e
witnesses were heard for the plaintiffs, and
60 for the side of the defense. There were
165 exhibits of majis, charts, samjiles of
grass and soil shown. The \erdict was re-
tunied awarding Zinzer $13,000, but the
Saiiitar\- District immediatcK- appealed the
decision, .\lthough o\er the years many
cases were tried, and the \'erdicts returned
were in faxor of tli(> landowners, thev were
just as (juickly appealed. The cases went
from one court to another, taking much
time and iinoK ing much expense. Farmers
living in the area at the present time, whose
land and crops had been affected, state that
the\' reeeixed \ er\- little or nothing. Legal
fees undoubtedly took up a large portion
of any judgments the laiidow iiers ma\' ha\e
been awarded.

The Partridge Drainage District was dis-
soK'ed, and in 1927, part of its area was
sold to the Illinois D(>partiiient of Conser-
\'ation. That was the beginning of what is
now known as the "Woodford County Pub-
lic Hunting and F'ishing .\rea." At that
time, 1721 acres were purchased from
Emanuel and Ida (Jarber of Washington,
Illinois. In I92<S, sixty more aires were pur-
chased from Cic'orge and Hiitli Roberts of
Chillicothe. Prior to its present name, it
had been xariousK' designated as "Chilli-
cothe Game Preserxe", "(.'hillieothe Public
Shooting Grounds", and "Woodford County
Game Preser\e". The dam at Peoria was
finished around 1938 and this inundated all
of the Hood ])lain to its ])reseiit level. This
flooded area is prcsentK known as the
Upper Peoria Lake.

"Woodford Ditch"

In 1947 and 1948, the State purchased an
additional I,I13..'3.5 acres so they could
have a roadway into the L'pper Peoria
Lake for the fishennen and hunters. In
194S a ditch was dug, now known as the
Woodford Ditch, which gave the fishermen
and hunters an outlet to the lake. This
roadway and watenvay gave the public a
way into the Upper Peoria Lake without
having to go across private land. Now the
Woodford Ditch is known to all the public
of Illinois for the fine crappie fishing in the
winter time. Unfortunateh-, in the last
decade, ix)llution of the Illinois River has
lowered the fish population to a great ex-
tent, and some species have become extinct.
Although pollution has taken its toll, many
sfX'cies of fish — bass, crapj^ie, sunfish, chan-
nel catfish, bull-head, white perch and carp
— still gave many hours of recreation to the
60,000 people who used the area in 1967.

In 1959 the state purchased 2.20 acres
of land so it would widen the road coming
into the area. .At this time, a blacktop road
was built. This purchase brings the total
acres of land and water in the \Voodford
County Conservation area to 2,896.55.
There are 106.55 acres of land, and 2,790
acres of water.

In 1946 the state held its first iiublic

150

hunting at the Woodford area. At that
time, tlie check station was on the west
bank of the river at Cliillicothe. In 1947
enough hind was purchased on the east
side to permit tlie department to liuild the
present check station. Duck hunting and
fishing have operated from here since that
time. In 1967, 1,569 duck hunters used the
Woodford County Pubhc Hunting and
Fishing Area.

As more people began turning to the
outdoors for recreation, one of the bigger
and faster growing forms being outdoor
camping. To meet this need, the depart-
ment, in 1964, started the de\ elopment of
a camping area. This area was completed
and opened to the public in 1965. The
camping area will accommodate 42 camp-
ing trailers with electrical outlets. In 1967,
1,198 camping trailers and tents used the
area.

The area is also used b\' many picnick-
ers. We estimate that 10,000 to 15,000 peo-
ple used this area in 1967 for picnicking
alone.

Boating is another form of recreation.
The department has rental boats, which are
maintained for rent to the public for fish-
ing, hunting and boating. In 1967, the de-
partment started die development of boat-
ing facilities for the many private boat
owners who use the area. These facilities
should be completed and in operation in
1968. ( The foregoing information was fur-
nished by Mr. Richard Brooks, refuge man-
ager of the area. )

The population of Partridge Township
in 1860 was 346; 100 years later the census
showed it was 349. The town.ship has never
had a village nor an industry, having re-
mained a rural commimity. The number of
farms and farmers is smaller than it was,
but die past 25 years has seen an increase
in commuters. Many people have been at-
tracted to Partridge Township because of
the views from the bluffs overlooking the
river and die valley with its modern farms
and well-cared-for ground. The bluffs and
hill-tops, which years ago were so difficult
to reach from the \'alley, are now dotted
here and diere with homes and manv of

Woodford Cotinty History

the roads leading to them are black-topped.

In its earliest days. Partridge Township
was overwhelmingh' Democratic. Of the
first settlers, Benjamin Younger who was
school treasurer for many years and then
justice of the peace, was supposedly the
only one who voted the Whig ticket. The
political record of the township changed
slowly as the years went by. For several
years in local contests, there was a Demo-
crat party and a Peoples Party. From the
names appearing on the Peoples' ticket, it
would seem that the party was made up of
both Democrats and Republicans. One can
assume that those elections must have been
exciting ones. For the past 20 years, the
township has gone Republican in the Na-
tional elections, and in most of the state
elections. The township officers, however,
for many years ha^'e been Democrats, as
they still are. Mr. Ivan Beavers, the town-
ship supervisor, has held his office since
1930, longer than any supervisor in Wood-
ford County. The clerk is Martin Kunkel,
Russell Winkler is the assessor, and Palmer
Clark is the commissioner of highways. All
are well known throughout the area, and
are descendants of old families, long associ-
ated with the politics of the township.

Several generations have come and gone
since Partridge Township began, and much
e\idence of its past is no longer visible.
Here and there, however, still stands a
house which has seen at least 100 years of
history. One of these, the Dan Jones house
on State Route 26, is owned and occupied
by Floyd Jones, a descendant of that early
family. Next to it is the Baker place, and
farther south on the highway is the Hoslior
farm, occupied by Charles Head, and the
John Snyder house. The Frank Poignant
house, formerly die Ramsey place, is also
over a century old, and there are doubtless
others.

Here and there, too, on a lone hill, can be
found a single grave or a small cemetery,
reminders also of the past. Buried here are
some of the fii-st settleis of Partridge. On
the top of one hill is the deCuibert burial
ground called the Lone Hill cemetery. The
Johnson cemetery can be seen from the

riirtii(l<j,<' Tinnislii))

151

highwaw and in it one can read otlicr
names snch as Tliomas Tnnis, wliose gra\'c
marker indicates that lie was a soldier in
the Ci\il War. Jnst across the \\a\' from
this cemetery, on a hill oxerlooking the
valley is a single monument in menior\- of
Nancy Johnson. In Section 2 is the IJaker
cemeter\- and nearh\ are hnried Cranks,
Fritclictts, and Jones. The first settler in
Partridge, Francis .A\res. is hiiried in a
small plot near the Klmer W'inkli'r farm
owned by Mrs. S. M. .Sn\der. Here also
arc his wife, and George and Nancy Ruckle.
There are Hoshors hnried behind the
Hoslior i^lace on the hill, and in Section 36
near the old Rediger place is a small ceme-
tery' where Rediger and Chirks are buried.
On a hillside behind the Kern farm are
buried some of the BetteKunes and De-
Fords. Unfortunate!)', man\ stoTies are no
longer legible, and like the bodies that
were buried there in simple wooden coffins,
they are a literal returning of dust to dust.
Occasional!), in walking o\er a newh-
plowed field, or through the timber, one
finds a crudely made bottle, an old sejuare
nail, or a piece of iron whcri' a blacksmith
shop used to be. I^ut. what ne\er fails to
pro\ ide a thrill is to lean o\ er and pick up
an arrowhead. Then, one is suddenly re-
iiiiTidcd of a race of jicopic who were here

so long ago before the white man, and who
lo\ed this coimtry and regarded it as their
land. We are indebted to Wm. Zeller and
iiarr\ Spooner, because of their (effort to
keep alixe the memory of (;hief black
Partridge. On October 17, 1954, a monu-
ment to the Indian chief was dedicated. It
was erected in Partridge Township beside
State Route 26, near the Midwa\' Duck Inn
and the historic deCiuibert farm home site.
Built of cobblestones in the rough and em-
bedded in concrete, the moninnent bears a
bronze tablet which has the following in-
scription:

Site of Bl.vck PAHTmuc;E Village
Here, in October, 1812, 300 Rangers
under Gorcrnor Ninian Edncirds. Col.
Win. Rii.s.sell and Capt. Daniel Judy
massacred 30 defenseless Potatcatomi
Indians, old men, women and chd-
dren, and completehj dcstroijed their
cillaiie uhilc the hunters were absent,
and their chief. Muck-et-ep-o-kee,
Hhick Partridge, hero of the Ft. Dear-
born massacre, was on a mission of
mercy to rescue Lt. Helm from Indians
on the au Sable river.

This moiiiiinent erected by Win. L.
Zeller. Spring Bay. and Harry L.
Spooner of the Peoria Historical So-
ciety, 1954.

<_>^

"'2««

':^''

Roanoke Towiishij)
hy

Mrs. June Barr.\ and Mhs. Elsie Ferrero

Tlu' \illagt' of Roanoke was established
and laid out in December 1872 after the
completion of the C.P. & S.W. Railroad.
The railroad diagonal!)' passes through the
village crossing Panther Creek near its
southern boundary. It was surx'eyed and
platted b\' Hiram Harne\ . Benjamin Kindig
and D. T. Fauber. who were the original
proprietors of the \ illage. Lots were offered
for sale and impro\ements were immedi-
ately begim. Hiram Harne\ and others
made an application in the Metamora
County Courthou.se on June 26, 1874, for
an election to incorporate tlu' town of
Roanoke \mder (ieiieral Law. The settle-
ment had 300 inhabitants which met legal
requirements for organization. John Franz,
.•\brahain Fisher, and M. X. Gish were ap-
poJTited judges for this election in which a
majorit\' \oted h)r \ illage organization un-
der Cieneral Law.

In the JuK term of Woodford County
(xHirt. it was therefore ordered by the
court that the terrifor\ described in the pe-
tition filed and presented as aforesaid, "to
wit; the SW V4 of Section IX, the SE Vi of
Section 15, the W '2 X\V 'u of Section 23,
the NE '4 of Section 22 in Township 27
Xorth, Range One west of the .3rd PM in
Woodford Count)'. Illinois is contiguous,
not exceeding two square miles in area, be
declared incorporated as the village of
Roanoke." It was further ordered that an
election be held in the \ illage on Saturday,
the 15th day of August A.D. 1874 for the
purpose of electing si.\ trustees. Frank Jeter
and P. \. P'isher acted as clerks and G. W.
Renie, M. L. .Mock, W. N. Gish acted as
judges. Edgar L. Fetter was elected presi-
dent: John O'Brien, \illage clerk; Eli (Jude-
man. J. E. Woltzen. and P. J. Ilusseman,

board of trustees; H. D. Ilollenback, treas-
urer; John .Vlueser, street commissioner;
J. W. Fauber. policeman, with special
pohce, B. L. Ilusseman and C. F. Chaflant.

The first structure in the \illage limits
was built b\' Henry Franz, who later used
it as a store. The first residence was built
by Chris Gozinger in 1873. By 1878 the
towii had grown steadiK- and contained
over a 100 buildings and 350 inhabitants.
In ISSO the population was considerably
o\er .300 and at tlu- present time the popu-
lation is appro.ximately 2,000, although
there was a decline during the depression
>ears. In the mid 20's the population was
1,400; however, by the 30's the figure
dropped to 1,000, where it stood till in the
early 40"s when the popuhition was again
on the rise.

In the fall of 1873. an event of much
importance occurred in Woodford (,'ountv,
in which Roanoke plaved a central role.
The citizens of the village and vicinity,
fullv' realizing that this was the most cen-
tral point in the countv . and with its other
advantages in mind, movt-d for the loca-
tion of till' county seat in this place. A pe-
tition, with the reejuisite number of names,
was accordingly presented to Countv- Judge
Meek, and an election was ordered to de-
termine the (juestion. The election was
closely contested at every polling place in
the countv- and a heavy vote polled. The
returns, as canvassed by the countv- board,
showed a decided majority for Roanoke. In
the meantime, injunctions had been served
on countv- officers restraining them from
removing the county records from Meta-
mora and in a contest of election, before
Judge Burns, a majoritv- of six votes was
declared against removal. Under law, the

153

154

Woodford Countij History

matter could not be submitted to \oters
oftener tlian once in ten years. In 1884
Roanoke again petitioned for an election.
A light vote was polled and the majority
stood heavily against remo\al, 1,122 for
and 2,441 against.

Township

Until about the year 1850, the prairie
that is now Roanoke Township was in its
virgin state. The first settlements in the
township were made in the timber south-
east of the present site of the village. We
learn from records that about 1S32, the first
settler, Jacob Stephenson, formerly of
Christian County, Kentucky, brought his
family and settled in the grove. He built
the first cabin in the township and was a
blacksmith as well as farmer. Next early
settlers came from Kentucky, Tennessee,
Virginia, and Indiana. Joseph Causey was
a veiy early settler coming from Kentucky
in about 18.36. He moved away for about
four years and then moved back to build
the first blacksmith sliop. In 1833, Joseph
Wilkinson moved here from Indiana about
the same time Joseph Wilson came from
Tennessee. Elijah Marshall, who came from
Vermont in 1848, \vas the first to build a
frame house and barn. Many more names
could be added to the list of early settlers
and many of them have descendants living
in Roanoke Township today. These brave
pioneers were honest, industrious people
whose needs were few and easily supplied.

The county was di\idecl into townships
in 1855. The name Roanoke was given to
the township by John Gish, in lionor of
Roanoke, Virginia, his old home. April 3
of that year the first township elections
were held. Those elected were: Da\id S.
Brown, supervisor; James Stephenson,
clerk; John Gish, assessor; Benjamin San-
born, collector; Samuel Stitt, Emerald
Fisher, and Joseph Brubaker, highway
commissioners; Charles Stoller and Joseph
Gish, constables; Garmon Gish and John
Franz, magistrates. Thirty votes were cast
in this election, in comparison to around
400 of the 1,421 \oters in the townsliip w ho
voted in the most recent township election.

Present officials are: Erwin Beenders, su-
per\'isor; IIenr\' Priller, clerk; Roy Beer,
road commissioner; Gene Micheletti, Mel-
vin Rocke and Sam Hasler, township audi-
tors; Harley Aeschleman, assessor; B. Rem-
mert, A. Amigoni and B. Woltzen, ceme-
tery trustees.

As late as 1850 there \\ere only a few
houses in the townsliip. In this pioneer
period up until 1850, land sold at from
$50 to $60 per acre, whereas it now sells
for about $800 per acre. At the present
time Roanoke ser\es an approximate area
of 300 farms \\'it]i an a\erage acreage of
190 acres. Com and so\beans are the main
grain products and livestock consists chiefly
of beef and dairy cattle, swine, and poultry.

Roanoke Township is geonietricaih- the
center township of the county and is one
of the richest farming territories in the
state. It is bounded on the north b\^ Linn,
east by Greene, south b\' Olio and on the
west by Metamora. It is known as Congres-
sional Town 27 N., Range One W and
contains six sections of fine land.

Municipal Government

The village of Roanoke is governed, as
it has been since incoiporation, by a board
of six trustees and a president. All members
are elected for four-year terms. Election of
trustees is held every two years, with three
being elected each time. A clerk is elected
for a four-year term and a treasurer is ap-
pointed. The present go\erning body of the
village is: President, Robert Risser; trus-
tees. Jack Micheletti, Chde Thommen, Joe
Amigoni, Elmer Wehrli, Joe Barra and
Melvin Ladendorf.

Among the services rendered by this
group of men are police protection, fire
protection, garbage disposal, zoning, water,
streets, electricity and gas.

Police. Roanoke has sexen-day police pro-
tection, with calls answered at all times.
It has two-way radio service in cooperation
with the sheriff and state police. The first
police protection ofleretl the people of
Roanoke consisted of a night \\'atchman
who patrolled the business district only
from twilight to midniglit each day. He re-

Roanoke Toniisliip

feixed his compensation iioni contrilmtions
In tlic l)iisinessmen. Later, tlie \illage
board supplrnicntcd his wages with a
stated amount paid from the budget.

Fire. Roanoke N'olnnteer I'ire Department
was organized June 12, 1914 with .\Ia>or
E. E. Hu.sseniann in charge of a meeting
of interested l)usinessmen and \illagers. A
committee was chosen from thi.s group
which selected 18 men to be members of
the department. A second meeting was
held the same week to draw up rules and
by-laws. At this time two of the original
members resigned without ha\ing serxed.
Mayor Husseniann was subsecpiently
elected fire chief, a position he held for
nian\- years.

In October 1914, after e(|uipment had
been moderni/ed, the firemen built a hose
house on the triangle of land formed by
the junction of Husscmann, Jefferson, and
Daxidson streets. This liuilding cost S675,
the funds being raised 1)\- a Labor Dav
celebration and firemen's liall. Tlie l>nilding
was 20'x20'. 9' high witli a .^O lull tower
at one corner.

The present firehouse was completed in
1948 at a cost of S14,00(). It is a block build-
ing, 48x64', containing a large truck ga-
rage, storage, kitchen and restrooms. This
bmlding was remodelled by adding a large
meeting room. The compan>- toda\ ( 1968)
boasts 25 members, two fire tracks, ecjuip-
ment truck, a trained first aid scjuad and a
resuseitator.

At the general election iield Xo\ . 7, 1950,
Roanoke eiti/ens \ated on and passed a tax
at .20 percent for fire protection.

A rural fire protection a.s.sociation was
formed in 1954, and this group owns a
1000-gallon truck with 50()-gallon pump.

Streets. In a special election held \iav 21,
1940, Roanoke xoters faxored a bond issue
for street improvements in the amount of
S9.()00, The total cost of the impro\-ements
wiiieh inehuled blacktopping, curbing and
gutters was estimated at S88.()()(). The WPA
and other federal agencies provided some
$49,000 of this amount.

Before this time, the \ illage streets wliieh

loo

w I'le dirt surfaced recei\ ed road oil, usually
once a xcar. which homeowners paid for. A
few of the streets were graxclli'd. and the
main street received paxement xvheii Route
I 16 xxas built tlirough the toxxn.

.\t the time of the first bond issue, some
44 blocks of streets were improxcd. This
project took approximatelx' txxo xears. On
June 10, 1947, a S25.00o'bond issue xxas
xoted on, and passed, for blacktopping an
additional eight blocks of streets; it also
included extension of some xvater mains.
On October 26, 1950, a bond issue for the
blacktopping of 32 additional blocks was
x'oted doxxn.

In 195.3, through the generositx' of the
Ulricii Manufacturing Company and xvith
the approxal of the street and alley com-
mittee. Roanoke receixed street signs and
posts for mounting the signs. The Lion's
Club and Roanoke Businessmen's .Associa-
tion assumed responsibility of installation
of the eightx odd sign posts necessary, and
bx' 1954 the job xvas completed.

The X illage, at this writing, boasts black-
topping with curb and guttering on all but
a fexx- blocks of streets.

Realizing that the farms are an impor-
tant part of our community's economy, the
township began a i)rogram in 1955 in
xxhich all countx' roads xxould be black-
topped. It also blacktoppcd other arterial
roads, until today, all but about 15 miles
of Roanoke Township's rural roads haxe
been resurfaced.

Water. .\t a special election. XoxcmlnT
25, 1912, x-oters approxed a xxaterxx orks.
By die middle of 1914, xxater mains xxere
laid, a 125-foot toxxer tank built, and a
pumphou.se established. The toxxer lank
had a 4(),(){)() gallon eapacitx'. It was 1923
before all mains xvere completed. Hoaiioke
is fortunate in haxing an apparentlx' un-
hmited supplx' of good qualitx water. Tx\o
10-inch x\-ells, one 38 feet and one 42 feet
deep, extend into an IS-foot graxcl bed.
Water ri.ses in the wells to within six feet
of the surface, under constant jiumping.
The pumps are electricallx' operated, but
can be run by an auxiliarx' diesel-powcred
gener.ilor if the need arises. In 1940 a filter-

156

Woodford County History

ing plant was installed to remove rust and
odor from the water. In 194S a water soft-
ener plant was constructed. Along with this,
new pumps were added so that 300 gallons
per minute could be pumped as compared
to 185 gallons per Tuinute before.

In 1962 a 200,000 gallon tank was erected
on land pre\iously purchased by the vil-
lage, lying adjacent to the pumping station.
This replaced the old tank which had be-
come obsolete.

At present, the \illage boasts an ade-
quate, modern water facility with approxi-
mateh- 650 homes being serxiced and 5,-
000,000 gallons being pumped per month.
Water rates are $2.25 for 2,000 gallon mini-
mum, as compared to TOo for a 2,000 gallon
minimum when the plant was first installed.

In 1964 an election on a sewerage bond
issue was held but was defeated. However,
in 1966 at another election, the issue passed
with a large majority. Construction on this
lagoon type system should be started in
1968 if plans materialize according to
schedule.

Zoning. In August 1950, a committee of
ten people, representing business, churches,
schools and all walks of x-illage life, was
appointed by the mayor to tackle the prob-
lem of planning and zoning. They were
helped in their efforts by people from the
University of Illinois. At the prompting of
the \illage board, a zoning ordinance was
written by this group. Howe\er, it was
never quite completed, and in 1953, the
mayor and the village attorney suggested
that this ordinance be completed and
passed on by the board.

In February 1953, a zoning ordinance
patterned after that which was being used
in Peoria Heights, was drawn up and
passed by the xillage board. A zoning
board of fixe was appointed by the mayor.
One original member, Jerry Sander, still
serves. An enforcing officer was appointed
later and the zoning group was ordered to
elect their own chairman and secretary.
This board acts on all requests for rezon-
ing, issues permits for new building and
the remodelling of old ones, etc. The board

functioned capably wlien several subdi-
visions were added to the \illage. Since
the middle 1940's four of these ha\e been
annexed— to the north, northwest, west
and southwest of the original \illage.
These properties were owned and handled
by E. Tassart, Legel Brothers, E. Bertschi,
and J. Pioletti and E. Moser.

In August 1966, the \illage board
brought the zoning ordinance up to date,
also providing for a planning commission
should the time e\er come to use this part
of the ordinance. At the September meet-
ing of the board, the mavor was granted
permission to appoint a planning commis-
sion which he did: it is made up of eight
citizens representing various interests, the
village board president, one other member
of the village board and the village at-
torney. The group has no official power,
but makes a comprehensive plan for long
range and immediate improvements for the
village. In 1968 thev" were striving to get
needed medical services for the community
— either clinic type service or individual
doctors to come to Roanoke to practice.

Library. On .April 15, 1950, seven town-
ships in the countv', of which Roanoke was
one, V oted on whether or not to be in a li-
brary district. The election was in favor
of this issue, but two precincts failed to
meet voting regulations, thus invalidating
the election. However, in April 1958 at a
special election for the purpose, Roanoke
voters approved joining the library district.
At that time, the Roanoke schools received
the services of a bookmobile which came
once a month.

In August 1959, the old firehouse was
remodeled to house the library. The Prairie
District supplied all shelves and books. A
librarian was hired and the library is open
nine hours per week. There is an average
annual circulation of over 8,000 books. The
library district bookmobile also serves the
schools as it has since the beginning of our
membership in the Prairie Librarv' District.
A summer reading club is also promoted.

In 1966, expanded services for the com-
munit\- were provided when the Prairie

Roanoke Toumhip

Lihrary District became part of the Illinois
\'alle\ Lihrar\- s\steiii.

Park. On Frida\ Jnne 28, 1957, the Roan-
oke \oters appro\ed establishment of a
park district b\- a \ote of 198 to 177. At the
same time, \oters selected a fi\e-man board
for the purpose of planning and administer-
ing the district. This board has the power
to lexy taxes, the maximum of which, b\
law can be 1/10 of a cent per SUM) of
assessed \aluation.

In December 1957, an option was taken
on 14 acres of land owned by Ed Moser,
for the park site. This property is west of
the Bertschi addition. An agreement was
also worked out with adjacent landowners
for purchase of more laiiil.

In due time, grading of the grounds,
grass planting, and blacktopped roads were
pnnidcd. A campaign to get 514 trees
donated to the park at S5 each was a suc-
cess. These were planted in 19.59. The park
has se\eral picnic areas with shelters con-
taining cooking facilities, picnic tables,
benches, and restrooins. There are tennis
and \olle\ ball courts, basketball facilities
and playground equipment. In 196S a cam-
paign was underway to constnict a large
communit\ building from donations b>-
Roanoke communit\- citizens.

Electricity and Gas. It is believed Roan-
oke first recei\ed electric power from the
Kureka plant. Date of the l)eginning of this
service cannot be determined, but it is
presumed to have been sometime during
the 13 >ear period 1878-1891 for which no
records of township histor\- can be found.
In July 1912, the Peoria EJectric Compan)
extended its service lines from Washington
to Eureka and on July 28, the local s\ stem
was connected and circuits were cut in,
giving more power and allowing lines to
be extended where there had heretofore
been none. At one time, the old Snvder mill
had been used as an electric plant.

At the time that Central Illinois Light
Compan\- took over. June 191.3, a repre-
sentative of the companx- told the village
board, while presenting his contract for use
of electricitv- for the year, that rates would

157

be much lower if the village had orna-
mental post street lamps. The village board
accepted the contract with exception of the
street lamp clause. It was some time before
Roanoke had street Hghts. In 1949, the
Chamber of Commerce, through concen-
trated eHort, put through a campaign for
street lights in the business district, along
Highwav- 116, and at street intersections
where there had previously been none.
This was done In- donations. At a special
village council meeting in November 19.56,
revamping of Roanoke's street lighting
system was discussed. At the January 1957
meeting, the Board approved plans for
more and larger street lights along Route
116 from the eastern to the western city
limits. New street lights were added in
residential areas, and now mercurv vapor
lights are provided for a large part of the
town.

On November 21, 1955. at a special
meeting, the village board approved Cen-
tral Illinois Light Company's proposed
franchise for use of natural gas in the vil-
lage. VV'ithin two years the pipes were laid
and service started. At this writing, the ma-
jority of the homes in the village use nat-
ural gas for cooking, water heating, and
area heating purposes.

Civil Defense. During World ^^'ar II,
Roanoke participated in the County Civil
Defense program, which had air raid
wardens, one for each town, block captains
and other help for quick warning in case
of air raids or disaster.

In 19.50 at the request of the gov ernor of
Illinois, Roanoke joined with a countv wide
civ il defense and disaster association which
expected all protection organizations, po-
licemen, firemen, doctors, along with truck-
ing companies, Cirl Scouts, Bo_v Scouts, etc.
to help in case of disaster. For some reason,
this group became inactive.

In 1958, new plans were made bv- the
\illage to prepare to meet disasters, with
Roanoke joining the Woodford County
Civil Defense organization again in 1961.
In cooperation with this group, fire com-
panies agreed to train auxiliarv' firemen.

158

the Roanoko schools sponsored a class in
education for survival, and authorized the
use of space in the high school building
for supply storage. The schools planned
improved e\acuation methods and held
drills. The emergency operating center for
the Civil Defense group is at the Roanoke
high school with radio booths, bulletin
boards, and other necessary items. The vil-
lage council approved an emergency warn-
ing system with horns, manually operated
(in case of power failure), mounted in
three strategic areas for complete warning
coverage for the entire town. This group
is among the most acti\'e in the \illage and
meets regularly for drills and briefings.
They also take their stations and posts dur-
ing any bad storm or tornado warning.
Cemctenj. The Roanoke Cemeteiy is lo-
cated at the northeast edge of the \illage
on land originally donated by D. W.
Fauber. The cemetery was regulated and
run by the village board for many years.
A conunittee was chosen as part of the
regular village board organization. In 1929,
there was some talk of ways and means
for pro\iding perpetual care for the ceme-
tery, but nothing materialized from this.
When the cemetery grew larger, the vil-
lage did not ha\'e funds for maintenance
and could not le\y tax money for this. The
village then deeded the land to the town-
ship. In 1950 the Roanoke Cemetery As-
sociation was established by referendum
vote for perpetual maintenance of the
cemetery. The association purchased four
and one-half acres adjacent to the grounds
from S. C. Zimmerman. This is financed by
public taxation of the township. Of the
original officers serving on this board, Alex
Amigoni is still a member.
Miscellaneous. One of the services ren-
dered by the village board is garbage dis-
posal. Roanoke has twice \\'eekly garbage
pickup, with modern garbage trucks.

The board also contributes to the sum-
mer recreation progi-am, as it has since it
began. This includes Little League, swim-
ming lessons, and super\ ised actix it>- at the
park.

Woodford County nistonj

Churches

In 1875, there were six organized
churches in Roanoke with a membership
of 500. At the present time we have six
organized churches with a membership of
nearly 2,000.

The organization of the Christian (or
Campbelhte) Church dates back to 1846.
Rev. Abner Peeler, a pioneer in religious
work, preached in school houses, private
homes and in the open air in the gro\e.
Their first church was completed in 1873
with James Kirk as pastor. It was dis-
banded about 1926. The building was sold
at auction on October 15, 1937 to Joe
Amigoni who in turn sold it to J. H. Lock
of Kappa.

The Baptist Church was organized in
1865 \\ith .32 members. Re\-. Sumner Rob-
inson was first pastor. They erected a
church the next \ear. Soon the congrega-
tion was disbanded for lack of members.
In 1852 the German Baptists (or Dunk-
ards) organized their society. Their first
building was built in 1856 near the Greene
Township line. The first two ministers were
James and George Gish. The first building
was built at a cost of $60 and later the
auditorium added, costing $1,500. A Sun-
day school was organized in 1873. This
church is now known as the Panther Creek
Church of the Brethren.

In 1848 the Methodist Churcli began
holding ser\ices in this area. Ser\ ices were
held in the members' homes till 1867. At
that time the area was designated as a stop
on the newh- formed El Paso Circuit, and
services were held in the Bunch Gro\'e
School. In 1872, Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie ga\e
the church some property on which a
church could be built just south of their
home. A new church was built on this
property near what was then the west edge
of town. It was a one room building. They
had to set up folding chairs for services
and had a stove for heating. Roanoke be-
came the head of the Secor Circuit in 1881
and the Re\-. Thomas Moots was the first
pastor to reside in Roanoke. From 1898
until 1908 the Eureka Methodist Church

lii)iiiioke Toil iisliip

was affiliated with Hoanokc. In 1910,
Eureka tenninated its affiliation; thcMi
Benson and Roanoke shared the same
pastor. In 1920 there were about 100 mem-
bers; today there are 23S. In 1932 Benson
got its own minister and ended a 22-year
assoeiation with Roanoke. Roanoke then
joined the Peoria Distriet in 1933 and still
remains in that distriet.

The name was ehanged from Methodist
Episeopal Church to Methodist CMiurch in
1939. The Women's Society for C'hristian
Service was formed in 1941 From the
Ladies Aid and the Missionary Society. A
new parsonage was built in 1961 and dedi-
cated, debt free. The old building was
used for classes until it was sold and
mo\ed awa\'. In 1964 a new education
building was built west of the church.

The Trinilij Lutlirraii ('litirch started
with sexeral residents of Linn Township
holding a meeting tr\ ing to start a church
to conform to the teachings of Martin
Luther. In 1871, the scr\ices were held
in a combination school building and
church. The charter members of this con-
gregation were largel\- of (Jerman origin,
therelore ser\ices were held in CJerman.
As a result ol this, the clmreli became
known localK' as the (ierman Lutheran
Church. In 1873. three acres of land were
donated to be used lor a cemeter\- and
when the lots were sold, the Trinit\-
Lutheran Church Cemeter\- came into be-
ing. This same \ear, the parsonage was
built.

On Januar\- 2, 1881, Janna Harms was
the first child baptized and in 1S82, the
first class was confirmed, being Dctick Up-
holl, John Degroot, (iesche Meyer and
Marii' Beenders. Descendants of these peo-
ple are still ac-ti\e members of the Lu-
theran Church. The years from 1882 to 1922
.show great growth in the church. During
this period the Walther League and the
Ladies Aid service organi/ations were
formed .uid became acti\e. In 1922, the
church was mo\cd from Linn Township
to the village of Roanoke. .\ lot had been
purchased, the house being luoved to the
west of the propert) and used for a par-

159

sonagc. Bible (llass was begun in 1928.
During the w i-ek of August 17-22, 1930,
the (k)lden Jubilee of the church was cele-
l)rated. The church building was enlarged
and moderni/eil in 1955. Ninct\-eight
years of histor\- ha\c seen thirteen pastors
and a present membershi|) of .375. A new
parsonage was built in 1966-67 on property
purchased across the street east of the
churcli.

The Apostolic Christian Chtiirh has one
of the largest congregations in tlie town-
ship. The earl\- members came originally
from C;crman\-, Switzerland anil France,
locating in tlu' southi>rn part of the tow^n-
ship. Elder Benedict \\'e\encth came to
the Roanoke area in 1857. Their first
church was built in 1876 on the site of
the present church. It was built of wood
and provided space for tluir liorsis and
buggies. In 1929 the church was e.xten-
si\('l\- remodeled and \ cneercd in brick;
modern lacilities were installed. lmpro\e-
ments were made again in 1958 when a
nurser>-. dining room and more Sunday
School room was added.

On June 19. 1964, the church was com-
pletel) destroyed b\' fire. On the same site
the new church was dedicated on October
30, 1966. At one time there was a small
church in town on Da\idson Street that
was used for mid-week and evening serv-
ices, in the late 194()"s this church was sold
and torn down. The land was subcli\ided
into lots upon which homes were built.

I'^arh- records of the St. }osc])h Cdtltolic
Church are practicall_\- non-e.xistcnt. Fran-
ciscan priests have been in charge of the
church since 1921. when Benson and Roan-
oke Tuet together. Land was pureh;ised
from Peter Kennell in 1893 in order tliat a
church could be built. On Ma>- 18, 1894,
the ncwK-built church was dedicated. Ad-
mission of fifty cents was charged to attend
and c\-er\one was in\'ited to attc-nd to help
a good cause. In 1896 services wcri> held
once a month, the second Sunday of the
month. Mr. and Mrs. August Seliuler were
the first couple to be married in this
church. The first priest served from De-
cember 1894 till Xo\(>m1)er 1895 and since

160

that time there ha\e been thirt>- priests.
Ground was broken by memliers of St.
Joseph and St. John's CathoHc Church of
Benson on October, 1964 for a new 40x53
foot Iniilding at an estimated cost of
$30,000. The new church, at a final cost of
$50,000, was finished and dedicated in
1958. A rectory was built on the northwest
corner of the lot, with a connecting breeze-
way. The old church was sold and moved
away to make room for a parking lot to
accommodate the 107 families who attend
services.

The first Roanoke Mennonite Church
was built in 1875 on an acre of land do-
nated by Christian Schertz. Services were
held for about 20 years prior to the build-
ing of the church. Christian Ropp and
David Schertz conducted these early serv-
ices twice a month. A new church was
erected in 1920. Many Mennonites from
Roanoke attend Mennonite churches in
Metamora, Linn Townsliip and Cazenoxia.

Schools

In 1855 the first school was opened with
less than 20 students. Some had books
about a variety of subjects but there was
no specific textbook. The Bunch School,
named for the bunch of trees that sur-
rounded it, was founded by the Christian
Church and had pupils from the ages of
six through 21. The cost of operation for
the year was less than $100. By 1878,
$7,000 per year was collected and used to
maintain the schools. School propert>' had
a value of less than $15,000, whereas in
1968 school property is valued at $18,771,-
184.99 and cost per pupil for the year was
$539.49.

Education interest grew till there were
nine good school houses \\'hen the first
trustees were elected in 1862. A graded
school was established in town and was
located on the corner of Ann and Franklin
Streets about 1891. Around 1913 there was
a German Lutheran School on the corner
of East Ann Street and State Street, with
Hannah Schlommer as teacher.

The Roanoke Grade School was built on
its present site in 1910. Since that time it

Woodford County Ilistonj

has undergone man\' changes on the in-
terior. Now this building only has fourth,
fifth, and sixth grade classes. The first three
grades attend Sowers Elementary, erected
in 1962. The kindergarten, which was
started in 1957-58, also is housed in this
building. The seventh and eighth graders
attend classes at Roanoke-Benson Junior
High in Benson.

The present high school building, cost-
ing $112,000.00 \\'as opened for classes in
1920. The new high school was named
Roanoke Victory High School till Benson
and Roanoke schools were consolidated
and the name was changed to Roanoke-
Benson. There is a difference of opinion as
to when the first graduation exercises \\'ere
held; but, according to the Roanoke Call,
a class of three girls graduated in 1896.
They were Orpha Fisher, Grace LTpton and
Gertrude Wheelwright. Miss Upton was
hired as teacher the following year. De-
scendants of Orpha Fisher and Gertrude
Wheelwright are still li\ing in Roanoke to-
day.

During the 1920"s, 30's, and early 40's
the enrollment fluctuated between 100 and
230 students. At that time there were eight
teachers in comparison with the 23 today.
The enrollment for 1967-68 school year
was 1,140 students. The high school band
was formed in the 1930's.

Roanoke and Benson schools were
united into a unit ( Unit 60 ) in 1949 and
were consolidated in 1956-57. Benson high
school students come to Roanoke in ex-
change for our seventh and eighth graders.
All rural schools were disbanded u'hen the
unit went into effect.

Throughout the years the schools ha\'e
been remodeled and new additions built.
In 1954 a new addition and g\m were
dedicated; the total cost of these being
$383,000. All departments are e([uipped
with the most modern equipment. The Na-
tional Honor Society was instituted in 1957
with 15 members.

Educational television was installed in
all classrooms in 1966. Adult classes, col-
lege extension classes, and veteran's classes
make up a part of the whole school system.

Roanoke Tounship

161

1905 pliDto of Roanoke coal miners ( mule drisers )

On May 21. 1965. Hoanoke along with
other Woodford (lountN towns, \oted to
join Peoria and Tazi'wt'll conntie.s in sup-
port of a tri-county junior college. It was
nanii'd Illinois (k'ntral Junior College and
it ga\e man\' more Hoanoke-Bcnson stu-
dents a chance for higher education.

In iy67-6S the high school again took
part in the Student Foreign E.xchange Pro-
gram. Jean Ciingrieh was the first student
from Hoanoke to nIucIv abroad. She spent
the suniMK'r stuiK ing in Colombia. In the
fall, threi' students, two from Peru and one
from Brazil, came to study heri' for three
months. .Another e.xchange student was a
l)o\ trom Ciermany who was here in 1963.

Industry

The second coal mine in the count) was
sunk in Hoanoke in LS81. A compan\'. with
Isaac Sn\der. Peter Kennell and Peter Bels-
ley, as chief in\estors. was formed and the
shaft was sunk in the east part ot town to
a depth of 4S() feet. Tlie\ tound a \er\'

good \c'in of coal at this depth, although
two other veins had been found which did
not promise as rich a return. In 1889, men
who worked the mine were of many na-
tionalities — Scotch, English, German, Irish,
and a few French and Italians. During the
next four years many more French antl
Italians came to work.

The propertN' was sold to the Hoanoke
Mining C.o. in 1889. By 1910 it was owned
and operated by the Duggan Bros. At this
time it was producing about 500 tons of
coal per da\' and emplo\(d appro.ximateh
300 men. After the hard road was built
much coal was trucked to Peoria. Hoan-
oke"s prosperit\' more or less depended on
the mine until February 1940 when it
closed. The large pile of clay at the mine,
known as Mt. Jumbo, has been one of
Hoanoke's landmarks.

.Another I'arK' industr>- was a tile and
brick \ard that was owned by (ieorge Wil-
lems in 1889. In 1906 he .sold his interests
in till' \ards to the .American (]]<iv Products

162

Co., hut Mr. VVillems .still managed the
l^Iant with 25 year-round employees. The
Baron Brick and Tile Co. pnrcha.sed it in
1914-15 for the production of kiln dried
brick and tile product.s. It closed its opera-
tion in the late 1930's.

Altorfer Bros. Manufacturing Co. was
organized in 1909, manufacturing A. B.C.
washing macliines which became nation-
ally known. The first machines were made
in the present Roanoke Hardware build-
ing. A two-story building was erected at
the present site, but it was destroyed by
fire on February 12, 1914. The same year
the company built the present one-story
building and also built the A. B.C. factory
in Peoria, because of the growing demand
for their machines. The company was sold
to the Kehinator Manufacturing Co. in
1935. The local plant, that was used for
parts assembh- center, is now completely
closed.

A study was made in 1940, after the coal
mine was closed down permanently, to
determine what could be done with the tile
plant to give employment to some of the
men who were out of work. In the spring
of 1941, the buildings were revamped and
new equipment installed and alfalfa acre-
age contracted for and operations began
of the Prairie Dehxdrating Co. It is a cor-
poration with D. B. Hodel as president.

In 1943, the Eureka Milling Co. was
established and the company was in the
bean processing business from approxi-
mately 1944 to 1952, also, at uhicli time it
made a complete line of formulated feeds
for all livestock, plus custom grinding and
mixing. In 1954 the compan>- discontinued
making its own feed and took Master Mix
Feeds as the sole line of feed. In 1955 they
took out all the old processing efjuipment
and replaced them with new. In 1966 the
company was sold to Art Wilkey, El Paso,
and Donald Nelson. McNabb, the present
owners. The name was changed to Roan-
oke Milhng Co.

Ulrich Manufacturing Co. came to Roan-
oke late in 1944 as a subcontract machine
shop using 5,000 sq. ft. of floor space and
eniplo\'ing a dozen men. Since then it has

Woodford Coiintij lli.itonj

grown steadii\- until it lias become a sig-
nificant supplier of equipment for the
earthmoving industry. Ulrich manufactur-
ing operations are divided into four cate-
gories being, earth moving, finished parts
for Caterpillar equipment, h\draulic equip-
ment, and sump pumps. Beginning with
the 5,000 sq. ft. of floor space as office and
shop, the company has grown to where
they now occupy 10,000 sq. ft. of office
space on Husseman Street and a factory of
over 50,000 sq. ft. located on a site of
something over three acres on Front and
Green streets.

The Illinois Builders Material Company
was organized prior to 1946 as a rental
lumber yard. In 1946, the company incor-
porated with home town capital, practi-
cally all stock being localK- ouned. In 1947
they began to manufacture concrete blocks.
As demand for its products increased, new,
modern equipment was installed in 1952
and the production of Haydite blocks be-
gan the same year. Starting with one em-
ployee, the company now has 12 men and
a stenographer. They ha\'e a modern of-
fice and a show room building on Front
and Green streets.

Roanoke Concrete Products \\'as organ-
ized in 1958 and they now produce the
cement products which Illinois Builders
Materials Co. formerly made. They employ
about 15 persons.

Woodford County Service Company was
fomied around 1929-30 with a plant in
Roanoke and offices in Eureka.

Included among Roanoke's ne\v- in-
dustries are the corn dryers added to the
Roanoke Farmer's association.

The Spacific Pathogen Free Abian Sup-
ply of Norwich, Conn, started a unirjue
industry in Roanoke in April, 1967, to
produce disease-free eggs and chickens.
This is the third plant in the world for
this purpose, the others being in Connecti-
cut and in Germany. Eggs are sold to
laboratories and universities in the mid-
west. \Va\ne Steften, of Fairbur\', manages
the firm and lives on the farm. The com-
pany employs from four to six men. Roan-
oke was chosen for this because of the

Roanoke Toinisliip

fairly central location in the market area.
This fimi is located two miles south of
town on the farm owned formerh- h\- Lee
Scherer.

Although man\- industries are found in
Roanoke, which eniplox- man\' of the resi-
dents, about 40% of its workers are em-
ployed at Caterpillar Tractor Co., Le-
Tourneau W'estinghouse, and other Peoria
area firms.

Transportation and ("onimunication

The first post office was established in
Roanoke in 1872 with Frank Pifer as post-
master. A new building erected in 1955,
was remodeled and enlarged in 1967. be-
cause of the increased volume of mail. An-
drew Zimmerman has been postmaster for
the past 21 years. According to records,
there were onl\- four other postmasters in
Roanoke. J. Wheelwright. B. Belsle\ . J.
Sand and R. Full.

Teieplione ser\ice locally owned b\' the
Roanoke Ti'lephone Co.. with E. N. Wheel-
wright as owner, started operations about
190.3. It was sold to Standard Telephone
Co. of Illinois. Januar\- 24, I92.S, and later
sold to Illinois Commercial Telephone Co.
In 1910, there were 265 phoni's and in I96S
there are over 800. The \illage l)oard
signed a 50-year franchise with General
Telephone Co., which purchased the com-
pan\ in 1955. Roanokes s\\ itchl)oard was
discontinued and offices were moved to
Washington. III. in March 19.58. A dial
S)stem has been installed.

Peoria Rockford Bus Co. has supplied
Roanoke residents with passenger service
since about 1936. There is a local truck
carrier to Peoria and fixe interstati' tiuck
Unes serve the town. V\"e also ha\c the
services of the United Parcel and R.E.A.
Freight.

In 1872 occurred an excnt in the history
of Roanoke Township, that has had a
marked effect on its prosperit\. In that
\ear. the C.P. & S.W. Railroad, known then
as the Ilinkley Road, was projected and
built. .\ iiuniluT of townships along the
proposed line had voted bonds for aiding
the company, and thereby secured its lo-

163

cation through this part of the comitry. Al-
though this township voted no bonds, sub-
scriptions amounting to S5,000 were rai.sed
b\- private indiv iduals to pay for the right
of wav-. This brought this communitv' an
outlet for the large shipments of grain and
livestock which previously had to be
hauled from eight to 15 miles to the near-
est railroad points. The A.T.S.F.R.R. pur-
chased the line in 1887. It is still in opera-
tion for freight only. Passenger service was
completely discontinued in Jannarv', 1956.
Services of Western Union Co. may be ob-
tained through the local railroad ag(>nt.

Businesses Past and Present

According to a historv" written in 1878,
there were 22 businesses in Roanoke.
Since that time there have been so many
that it would be impossible to name every
one. This is a partial list of those that
served our connnunitv- for from 25 to 50
years.

John Fran/ owned the first grocery
store, which he operated in his home.
Over a period of time thi' following have
operated grocerv' stores and meat markets;
Herbst & Co., Sam Zimmerman, Joe Pio-
letti. Riley IGA, and Harold Sehrock.

Matcher & Jeter established the first
hardware and plumbing business and some
others who followed were Altorfer &
Sander, E. L. Ilerbst & Sons, Matt Paluska
& Sons, and at the pre.sent time Elmer
Weidman.

RoaTioke has had two hotels — The Rapp
and the Darling — which were in operation
for ((uite a long time. L. D. Sehwender was
Roanoke's first hotel keeper. The Oak
Ranch Motel was our first motel.

One of the oldest established firms, still
in business, is Sauder I'tunitmc Store.
which has been handed down through
three generations. Godfried Harseim was
the first furniture dealer.

Schafer Shoe Store has been operated
l)v the same family for at least 50 years.
C. Gozinger was in the shoe business in
1878.

Barber shops have been owned by Yeck,

164

Woodford County History

Husseman, Pettigrevv, John and Andrew
Paluska.

A. Veuve, and S. Sorg were in tlie jew-
elry business for many years. R. Plattner is
now Roanoke's jeweler.

Jacob Steplienson was the first bkick-
smith. Darhng, Full, Hillen and Martin
Bros, were in business for long periods of
time. The Fehr blacksmith and machine
shop has been operating since 1917.

William and Peter Crow built the first
grain elevator. Such names as Holienback,
Greiter, Wrenn bring memories of our ele-
\ators. Roanoke Farmer's Association pres-
ently operates a corn drier at the ele\ator
and has one in the country. In 1929, for a
short time, a corn dryer was operated by
Hodel & Saleski in the present Garber's
Sundries building.

F'uneral directors have been Morrow,
Sauder, Vincent, and Remmert.

The bank's name has been changed four
times in its history. Those names have been
Farmer's Bank, German American Bank,
Roanoke State Bank, and now the People's
State Bank.

Farming equipment has been in great
demand since our earliest history and in
1878 the businesses listed in this category
were: Harness — T. Brown, Marti, and in
later years, L. Knoll; wagon makers — I.
Fisher and U. Beer. At the present time we

have Martin Implement, Roanoke Equip-
ment, and B. P. Martin. T. E. Brown was
the first contractor as far as we could find.
Now we have Illinois Builders Products,
A. Bowald, and Amigoni E.xcavating. J. B.
Snyder, J. N. Fisher and McCord were a
few of the early contractors.

McNeil & McNeil were the earliest at-
torneys. In 196S B. H. Huschen is our only
attorney and also serves as state's attorney.

The history of Roanoke's businessmen
would not be complete without mentioning
a few of those who spent a great deal of
their li\es in business in Roanoke. Charlie
Swartz (a teamster). Joe Amigoni, Pete
Micca, and Joe Bussone were in the dray
business. Bussone is the only survivor.

Roanoke's theatres were Airdome, owned
by Sand; Pallisette, owned by P. Herbst;
Oak Theatre, owned by Phillips; and Roan-
oke Theatre, owned by Moritz. There ha\e
been many bakeries in Roanoke. T\\'o of
the bakers who operated businesses for a
long time were F. Hessing and F. Herbst.
Pete Micca's saloon was the meeting place
for the miners, who, in 190.3, formed the
Union Italian Club. Paul Audi, Jack Grey,
and Tim Collins also owned saloons in the
early 1900's. In the late 1930's Bill Heedt
owned the only junk yard that Roanoke
ever had.

Roanoke, in 196S, supports many other

Roiinokc Tounship

t)usiiic'.ssc.s ineludin<i fi\r hcaiitN sliops, two
senice stations, two ladies' read\-to-\\ear.
one men's elotliing. one bowling a]le\-, one
eleaner, oiii' lainidramat. se\ en food ami
drink establishments, three garages, iivr
insurance agents, (M. L. Mock being the
first in 1878). Roanoke has been the dis-
tributing point for the Woodford Clount)'
Serxiee ilo. since 1947, with (L Aeschleman
as local distributor.

Our humble apologies to those whose
names might ha\e been inachertenth' oxer-
looked and not mentioned.

Newspapers

A weekly newspaper riaiiKtl '77/r Era"
with Ceorge Ilolton as I'llitor wds pub
lished in 1884, one cop\- of which remains
on file— Xol. 1, No. 18, July 26, 1884.

The Roanoke Call was evidenth- the next
newspaper for Roanoke. The editorial in
the first issue made a comment on begin-
nings in journalisiu, etc. This paper was
first published Thursda\-. .August 6, LS91,
with P. B. Hobbs, editor.

On Tuesday. June 17, 1913, T. P. Petti-
grew took o\er as editor of the Roanoke
Call. The paper had been published on
Fridays for some time, and had been a six
column paper. Mr. Pettigrew started with
a sexen-coluiini sheet.

On Tuesday. JuK' 13. 1913. issue No. 48.
the Roanoke Call was renamed the Roan-
oke Post, rea,son being given that there
were financial difficulties with the Call
which could be clarified b>' reorganization.
With the issue of Tuesday. Januar\- 18,
1944, the Post was renamed The Roanoke
Reiieu . which name it still carries.

Edeetive December 9. 1952, Miss Marj-
orie Thompson purchased the Roanoke
Rexiew from Mr. Pettigrew. xxho retired
after 61 years in the nexxspaper business.
He started as a boy, selling papers, later
xxriting for the l-loanoke paper, and finalK
buying it in 1913.

On May 1. 1955, the Woodford County
Journal of Eureka purchased the Reiieir
from Miss Thompson. Printing is done at
the Journal plant in Euri'ka. Editorial of-
fices xxere set up at 1()2B W. Ilnsscrnan

165

Street, xxhere thex are at this lime, Janu-
ar\- 1968. Dr. Burrus Dickinson is editor.
The onlx' other nexx.spaper in Roanoke,
to our knoxxledge, xxas the Roanoke Rec-
ord, established by B. J. Kadford in 1914.
About 1919 it xx'as consolidated xxith the
Roanoke Post.

Health

As far as records shoxx', the first mi-dieal
doctor in Roanoke xvas A. Ickstadt in 1891
and our first dentist xvas E. L. Finchum in
1896. Our present doctor. Dr. R. J. Davies,
has been a resident and practicing phy-
sician for the past 25 years. Dr. Robert
Wallace, our dentist, took oxer the prac-
tice of his father. Dr. Edgar Wallace. Ilis
father had been practicing in Ro.moke for
oxer 50 years.

Roanoke is proud of its home for the
elderlx- citizens, Roanoke Manor, xvhich
xxas built in 1958 by Bernie Remnu-rt. At
that time it xvas licensed for 57 beds. It
xvas sold to Roanoke Manor, Inc. in 1962
and later that year it was enlarged to ac-
commodate 77 beds. The present oxvners
are Burt Cohn and Mrs. Ruth Steinberg.

There haxe been only txvo xeterinarians
who have served Roanoke Community for
oxer 50 years. Dr. Isaac Rogers and Dr.
Silas Kemp. Dr. Kemp retired September,
1964, and noxx- Dr. Stefien of (ioodfield
serxes lioanoke a fexx- dax s a xwek.

C;ommunit>' Organizations

Roanoke Businessmen's Association is
one of the earliest organizations in Roan-
oke. A group of businessmen, calling them-
selxes the (.'onunercial Club, met on July
29, 191.3 and decided to organize. .\ com-
mittee, composed of Risser, IlnblHll, and
Pettigrexv, was named to set up the by-
laxx s. The basic reasons for organizing xvere
to build (ix ie interest, build np Hoanokes
xxclfare, boost its interests, and help mer-
chants to keep in harmoTix . These same
principles applx to the present association
in 1968. This organization has been knoxxii
under other names such as ("ixic .Associa-
tion and Comuumity Association. I'arlx ac-
eoniillishniinls xxere manx', but to mention

166

a feu — the organizing of a to\\n baseball
team in 1914; oiling of \illage streets, by
donations, in 1914; helping to get the
Building and Loan Association started.
Later they helped a great deal in getting
the streets paved and in tlie installation of
a water purifier. It is still their aim to
make Roanoke a more pleasant place to
do your shopping.

The American Legion, Post 463, and
American Legion AuxiHary are also acti\e
organizations. The Legion was formed
soon after World War I and today has a
membership of 183. The Auxiliary was
granted its charter in the early 1920's and
now has 75 members. These organizations
are both constantly working for the better-
ment of the community as well as benefits
for veterans.

Boy Scouts started meeting in the 1920's,
although there are few records kept as to
membership. In 1968 there are 50 Cub and
40 Boy Scouts, who meet every week.
There has been only one Eagle Scout in
our historv, Tom Riley, and he earned this
award in the fall of 1967. Mrs. Annoyna
Mueser began holding Girl Scout meetings
around 1935 with 20 girls in one troop. En-
thusiasm has grown through the years, we
now have 93 Girl Scouts, which make up
five troops and there is one Senior Scout,
Glenda Miller. Many Scouts enjo\- camping
at Camp Tapawingo and Camp Wokanda.
A great many belong to the Woodford
County Farm Bureau which was estab-
lished in 1919. There are three active
Homemaker Extension Units— Roanoke,
Center, and Maple Lawn. Through these
organizations several 4-H clubs have been
started.

The Jaycees received their charter, Feb-
ruar\' 1963 and now they ha\e 25 members.
Their puipose is to enlist young men under
35 to work for community and civic better-
ment. They ha\'e many accomplishments,
such as placing yield right-of-way signs,
park care, teen dances, erecting a star and
cross on Mt. Jumbo.

The Sportman's Club was organized be-
fore World War II, but didn't become very
active until around 1946. They now ha\'e

Woodford County History

70 members and their main acti\ it\' is rais-
ing pheasants.

The Roanoke Art League \\as organized
in January, 1967. Their 25 members have
sponsored art shows and art classes.

Local people belong to county organiza-
tions such as Civil Air Patrol, Isaac Walton
League, and Woodford Count)' Veteran's
Barracks, 191S.

Incidents— Some Not So Pleasant

Our town has not been passed by, by
events of startling character, although in
comparison they ha\'e been few. Roanoke
has withstood three major fires in the busi-
ness district— 1893, 1901, 1909.

On October 23, 1893. after midnight, the
entire block on the west side of Main Street
and south of Broad Street burned in one
and one-half hours. It is belie\ed to ha\e
started when an argument arose between
two men who had been gambling and
drinking. They started to argue and one
threw a kerosene lamp at the other, caus-
ing the fire. All structures except the pres-
ent Roanoke Hardware building were
burned and the loss approached $20,000.

Eight years later on November 14, 1901,
the southeast business block with five busi-
ness houses was destro>'ed by fire in less
than tu'o hours after the alarm was
sounded. It seemed to ha\'e started from
an o\er-heated chimney in Rosenak's store.
This same store was completely bumed
two years later.

About 2:30 p.m. on April 22, 1909, smoke
was seen coming from under the tin roof
of the Paul Audi saloon, where the fire is
behe\ed to have started. It destroNcd all
the buildings on the west side of Main
Street and north of Broad Street except the
Grey home and Blottiaux butcher shop.
Crowds of people gathering on the street
hampered the firemen immensely.

In the winter of 1870-71. there occurred
in the western part of the township a hor-
rible murder. Mr. Christian Schertz, while
sitting by his fireside playing with his chil-
dren, was brutalK' murdered, b\' a shot
from without by some person unknown.

Roanoke Tounship

167

A suspect was tried for tlie niurclcr hul
was not con\icted.

The township in 1S75 was \isited by one
of the most \'iolent tornadoes tliat has ever
been known in this part of the country.
Thougli confined to a narrow belt, in some
places not exceeding 50 \ards in width, the
destniction of all within its swath was com-
plete. Houses, barns, trees, cattle, and
horses were swept awa\'. The whirlwind
struck in the southwestern part of the
township, demolishing the school house
that stood a mile from the west and three
miles from the south line. The teacher,
seeing the storm approaching, dismissed
school and only just in time, for the\' had
gotten but a dozen yards outside the track
of the storm, when the school was crushed
to fragments. From this point the tornado
passed across the road and completely de-
stroyed the house occupied b\- the Bing-
ham family who bareh- escaped b\- taking
refuge in the cellar. The Bullington home
shared the same fate, and the CJideon Jeter
and C. W'aldron homes were also de-
stroyed. No lives were lost, although a
number of persons were injured. The freak
winds were extremely curious, and in many
instances, almost incredible. Large stones,
parth' imbedded in the eartli. were scooped
up and carried long distances. Horses were
carried through the air and fence posts
were drawn from the ground. A child was
blown from its mother's arms, deposited
safely in a straw stack, and foniid later
when someone heard its cries.

Floods ha\e plagued the \illagers many
times, the worst being in 1924. Oni', com-
ing in .\ugust of 1924. after a loiitinuous
downpour, and one storm after anotlier.
made it a night to remember. Torrential
rains flooded Panther (Ireek making it a
raging torrent and raising its lexcl a foot
every few minutes. Houses in (lie lowlands
were soon flooded, and the current of the
water was .so powerful that neither man
nor beast could resist it. Water covered
South Main Street and West Front to a
depth of three to six feet. The Leo Bod-
haine family, near the park, left their home
about midnight. Miss Sadie Robinson and

i'rid and Otis Darling were rescued from
the fomier hotel building. Dr. Rodaway
swam to Mrs. Julia Nafzinger's house with
a rope which he fastened to the porch.
He managed to break the door and found
.Mrs. Nafzinger clinging to the top of a
door frame, standing on the knob of the
door. He rescued her. The Benj. Fehr
machine shop was filled with water to a
depth of four feet. The eit\- pumping plant
was also filled so that no one could get in
to start the pumps. Hundreds of feet of
Santa Fe railroad track wc>re loosened and
washed out both east and west of town.
Houses within reach of the flooded creek
were co\ered with water; then left with
inches of mud and muck to be cleaned out.

A flu epidemic stnick Roanoke, as it did
all o\er the nation in 191S. and a great
number of persons who contracted the dis-
ease died. The Roanoke Crade School w as
.set up as a hospital to help take care of the
sick.

On June 29, 1906, four men. empltnees
of the Roanoke Coal Co.. fell to their death
down the shaft of the coal mine. They
were Andrew Mitchell. .August Mncvser,
Joseph DeWasme and Camile Faucon. The
men weie at work on scaffolding timbering
the shaft, 60 feet from the top of the .500
foot shaft ,when the seafloldiiig broke caus-
ing the tragedy.

Roanoke has not been an idle spectator
during any of the wars, as records show
we have veterans from as far back as the
War of 1(S12. To date we ha\c records of
72 deceased \eterans from the Mexican
War, Civil War, Spanish American War,
World War I, World War H, and the
Korean Conflict. A 4-ton rock was brought
to town on a wooden drag b% the American
Legion and was dedicated .\hiy .30, 19.31.
honoring all \eterans. This was placed in
the cemeter\-. In 1945, an honor roll was
plac(>d b\ the old water tower, paid for
by donations collected In the old Service-
men's Club; it was later replaced with a
new one b\- the .American Legion.

Co\ernor Iiem\ Horner spoke to a large
crowd here on September 7, 19.36. L. Ris-
ser and L. Knoll were instrumental in se-

168

Woodford County History

curing the governor to gi\e tliis short talk
at the Labor Day celebration. Governor
Wm. Stratton made a brief helicopter stop
at Roanoke High School while campaign-
ing in 1960.

What started out as one of the highlights
of the 1938 Labor Day celebration turned
to tragedy when Edd Ray, 61, Blooming-
ton, fell to his death while parachuting
from a gas filled balloon. He left from the
Legion Park and when he reached 2000 ft.,
he jumped and all seemed to go well until
about 1200 ft., then his belt broke and
threw him free of his parachutes. His body

landed in Miss M. Rocke's yard. One para-
chute was found in the grade school yard
and the other on M. Aeschleman's bam.
Mr. Ray actually had traveled a land dis-
tance of only eight blocks.

SOURCES OF RO.'K.NOKt: HISTORY

1. Pusi and Present Account of Woodford Cttuntij.
1878;

2. History of Woodford Countij, Roy L. Moore;

3. Past issues of Roanoke newspapers;

4. Records of countv' court and village board;

5. Woodford Counttj and It's Toicns;

6. Pamphlet issued by Roanoke Businessmen's
-Association, 1956;

7. Church histories;

8. Older citizens and famib- diaries.

)nn<i;

Bav Townsliip

Mhs. Rosa McC^ahty

This comi'ahatim;i.v small. fiat;iiR'iitai\'
bit of land, known as Townsliip 27 Xortli.
Range 4 West of the Third Principal Me-
ridian, with a small comer of Towiiship 28,
is located in the sonthwestem corner of
Woodford Counts'. It is the smallest of the
townships in the count\-. but has a history
eciual to an\- portion of \\'oodford County.
It is bordered on the west b\ the Illinois
River, on the north In Partridge Township,
on the cast by Worth Township, and on
the south by Tazewell County.

The Indians

There were many Indians hi this section
at the time of the first settlements and for
several years thereafter. This was one of
the early Indian settlements. It had been
their home and hunting grounds, in all
probability, for centuries before the coming
of the w hite man. Because of the sheltering
tinil)er and the innumerable springs of
pure water it was a desirable spot to the
ro\ing bands of Indians. The Ottawas and
Potawatoniics. with a few Sacs and Foxes
were here when the first settlers started
coming and when kindh' treated, were far
more of a help than a drawback to the
newcomers. During the "Winter of the
Deep Snow." they were of great help in
furnishing them with veni.son and other
wild game.

It is beliexed that the Mound Builders
occupied this country' prior to the Indians.
From examination of artifacts and bones in
his possession. Dr. Zeller belie\ed these
earliest people to be Mound Builders.

This part of the countr\- is rich in relics
of pre\ious occupation. .A ninnber of
mounds were foimd in Partridge and
Spring Ba\' townships. Near Spring Bay

(on Mrs. (lunther's property) w-as found
a \er\' perfect specimen of a mound. It
co\ered tjuite a large area and was almost
perfectly rounded at the top. It has never
been opened, in deference to the wishes of
the owner who desires to preserve it as it
was.

.•\n Indian gra\eyard extended north and
south through the Milage of Spring Ba\ .
In digging cellars or excavating for foun-
dations along the line of this graveyard,
Indian skeletons are frequently found.*

Early Settlers

There is little doubt that one of the first
settlements made in Woodford County was
in what is now Spring Bay Township.
.\mong the first people who came here
were the following: \\'m. (George) Blay-
lock, (near Spring Bay), IS19; William
Blanchard. 1S22; a Mr. Dillion and Horace
Crocker, unknown dates; William Phillips,
1823; George Kingston, 182.3; John Stephen-
son, 1824; Hesse Dale. 1829; Auston
Crocker, 1824; Charles Fielder, 1827; Row-
land Crocker, 1828; Jacob Wilson, 1828;
Richard and Lewis Williams and NA'illiam
Walker. 1829; Da\id Mathews. 1S29;
"Widow" Donohue. 1829; Cieorge Hopkins,
1829; Ilirman Curry, 1829; William Hoshor,
1830; Joseph Belsley, 1831; Phineas Shot-
tenkirk, 1831; Louis Guilbert, 1833; a Mr.
Gingerich. 18-34; Nicholas. John, and I.saac
Sn\der, 18:34; William Hunter, 18.35.

Following are family names well known
in this area before the turn of the Centur\':
.\hrens. Bartli. Buockler. Drur\. Da\is,
Dubois, Deford, Ege, Eichhorn. Fauber,
Fischer, Fagott, Goehring, Leineweber,

• E,\cerpt from "Historrj of Woodford County,'
Rov L. .\Ioorc.

169

170

Loveless, Meister, Reising, Rohman, Spill-
man, Scheerer, Williams, and Zeller. To
trace the histon' of all the early settlers
after the lapse of so many years, would
be an impossible undertaking. Some others
are mentioned elsewhere in this history.

Many of the first settlers were from Ger-
many, France, Sweden, and Ireland. For
the most part, they came to this area by
way of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
The predominate nationahties were Ger-
man and French.

William Blanchard, born in the town of
Peru, Vt., came to Illinois in 1819. He was
in the War of 1S12, and after being dis-
charged from the Army in Detroit, early
in the year of 1S19, he and three com-
panions purchased a bark canoe and came
up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Upon
arri\'ing at Peoria (then known as Fort
Clarke) and learning of the unsettled state
of the countiy, Blanchard crossed over the
ri\er opposite the present city of Peoria,
planted and raised a crop, consisting of
com, potatoes, and pumpkins. This was the
summer of 1819.

In 1822, he built a cabin in Tazewell
County, near the Woodford County line.
This is said to be the first cabin erected
between here and Chicago; and during the
year, he opened the first farm in the area
with Henry Race, a young man he had em-
ployed to help him. On this place he raised
several crops which, like the first, he culti-
\ated mostly with hoes, as horses had not
yet been imported. In 1830, he settled on
a farm in Spring Bay where he was still
living in 1878.*

First Cabin. In the fall of 1822, a man
named Darby, with his wife and three chil-
dren, came from Vermont; arri\ing in
Spring Bay upon the verge of winter. Mr.
Blanchard took them in and kept them at
his cabin until spring, when they built a
cabin on a part of what is known as the
old Crocker farm in Spring Bay Township.
This was probably the first house built in
this township, and is thought to be the first
in the county. This section of the county

Taken from tlie Woodford County History IH7H

Woodford Cotmttj History

was deemed an unhealthy place in the early
days, and many fell victims to the "grim
monster" before becoming accustomed to
the climate. The Blanchards all sickened
and died in a few years. Henry Race, the
companion of Blanchard in his lonely set-
tlement, married a grown daughter of
Darby's, but she died within a few months.
According to the Woodford Count\' History
of 1878, it is believed that this unfortunate
family had the first marriage, and the first
death.

Spring Bay Village

This little village is situated on the Illi-
nois River, about ten miles north of Peoria.
It was surveyed and laid out in 18.36 for
Day, Matson and Brush, who owned the
land, and had purchased it from one Jacob
Woodcock, an old settler of whom but little
definite information could be obtained.

The name of Spring Bay is deri\ed from
the beautiful little bay in the rixer at this
place, and the numerous springs within its
compass. Springs abound throughout the
township, and at one time were the operat-
ing force for the early mills.

The first house in the \illage was built
by Benjamin Merithew, who, it seems, had
once owned the land or had preempted it.
The cabin was built before the \illage was
laid out. It was a small building and stood
where Genoway's storehouse was later
built. However, the first storehouse was
owned by Lewis Williams, and was a \'ery
rough affair that was built in the earh- part
of 1838. About this time a man named Rice
had a little store in the brush, just within
the present limits of the village, which
dealt chiefly in whisky and tobacco. In
1843, Ira Y. Munn came to the village and
opened a store in the building formerh'
owned by Williams. The firm of Munn and
Scott, who had a business in Fremont,
opened a mercantile business and also
handled grain.

Just after Munn commenced Inisiness, a
Mr. Thorton built a residence, which was
the first to be erected after Spring Bay was
laid out into a village.

C. A. Genoways and Samuel S. Burt

Spriiiii Bay Tounship

171

Iniilt the first grain warelioiise in LS44, and
after completing it sold it to Mnnn and
Scott for S400. It was a frame ])uilding.
30x60 ft., with a capacity of 8.()()() to 10,000
bushels. Richard Dement 1)uilt a grain
warehouse soon after; also, Lewis and Jack-
son Williams built a grain warehouse and
for many years did a large business in
grain, pork packing, and general merchan-
dise, in which they made a small fortune.

Hoshor and Dement built a warehouse,
and for about 20 \ears, beginning in LS44,
the grain trade at the village equaled any
point on the Illinois Ri\er. In its most pros-
perous day, Munn and Scott, Dement, Mc-
Manus, and William Hefelbower were all
handling grain, and all were doing a hea\\'
business. Practically thi' whole county
hauled grain to this place, and 100 wagons
on the street in one da\' was a common
occurrence.

The First Mill. A little horse-powered mill
was built in 1827, bv- Winston Barton —
called in those da\ s a corn-cracker. It was
a small alhiir and nexcr amounted to much,
but was the first mill in this section to be
nm b\- water power. It \\as built by Austin
and Horace Crocker (brothers), and was
still operating in 1878. It was powered by
water from several large springs in the
immediate neighborhood. William Hoshor,
who came from Ohio in 18.30. built a mill
near the Crocker mill in 18.35. By 1878
mill business had slackened, and by 1910
little evidence of this once flourishing ac-
tivit\- remained. Both the Crocker mill and
the Hoshor mill were located near James
Lambie's man-made lake and mobile home
park of toda\'. The Crocker's mill was south
of the James Lambie property. The Hoshor
mill was just a short distance north of the
Lambie lake. The propert)- was at that
time a part of the Hoshor land holdings.
William Hoshor built a distillery in con-
nection with his grain mill, which did a
large business for a nmnber of years, but
ceased to operate about 1S66-67.

Peter Eichhorn huilt a large hrewerv' in
Spring Ba\ where the Spring Bay Fire
House No. 1 now stands. It was a frame

structure ot a capacity to make about 2,000
barri'ls a \ear, most of which was shipped
to Peoria, and the remainder sold in this
county.

Da\id Couch b\iilt the first hotel to be
erected in Spring Ba)- in 1850. It has been
said that at one time there were three ho-
tels in "The Ra\-."

In 1849 a le\ee was started and enlarged
and iniproxed in 1851-52. The le\ee ex-
tended out 500 yards into the river, or
rather the "l)a> ' (ground at low stage of
water was barely covered). Here boats
could land at the low stage of the water.
Wm. H. Delph, of Metamora, was the engi-
neer in charge of the work.

Ri\er traffic continued to drop with the
coming of the railroads into Woodford
County in 1854, but navigation on the Illi-
nois was open and Spring Bay was (|uite a
good port for many years until the railroad
went down the other side of the river to
Peoria.

Spring Bay was still a growing town as
late as 1886 with every street lined with
hitching posts and racks for the teams that
came long distances with loads of grain
and produce to exchange for lumber and
merchandise brought from New Orleans,
St. Louis, and Chicago. One of the steam-
boat captains was C. A. Zeller (son of Dr.
John G. Zeller and husband of Kate Zel-
ler). The town, in its golden age, claimed
grocer)', hardware, and drygoods stores,
breweries, three taverns, wagon makers,
blacksmiths, grain elevators, along with a
school, post office, and hotels.

Water was no problem, for all that was
necessary was to drive a pipe a few feet
in the ground and the water shot up like
an oil well. When Bay\iew Gardens was
first subdivided many of the people didn't
ha\e a well (the deep wells on the hills
and binds have to be put down all the way
from 90 to 140 feet), so they .sometimes
tlro\e a pipe into the river bank, attached
a pump and hauled water to their homes
from these shallow wells.

The town hall was built in 1853 by a
special tax levied for the purpose, and cost
.$700. It was. for manv vears, the most scrv-

172

Woodford County Uisiory

Spriiiu 13a> \ ill. cue in 1(S9(I plintni^i.iplicd from tlu' llliiuiis Hi\er.

iceable building in the place, and was de-
\oted to a \ariety of uses. For all meetings,
public or pri\ate, sacred or profane, the
town hall was requisitioned. This hall was
used extensively until the day it was sold
to Hanna Johnson for $559 on May 28,
1957. In 1960 the Township and Village of
Spring Bay had built a concrete building
in the Spring Bay Park that they both use.
It also serves as a branch of the Illinois
Prairie District Library for the \'illage.

Politically Speaking

PoHtically, this township lias alw a\ s Ijeen
largely Democratic, even from tlie very
earliest period of voting. As it commenced
in the early day of Whigs and Democrats,
so it still remains, and the Republican can-
didate found it a poor field in which to in-
augurate political issues. It is said that at
one time Dr. John G. Zeller was the only
Republican in the \illage. Today the Re-
publican who holds a local office usually
received the votes as an individual and not
because of his party.

Among the older residents of tiiis com-

munit\' who ha\e faithfully served their
communit)' in pubhc office for many years
are the following: John Miller, farmer, who
at the age of 21 began serving as town
clerk, tax collector, tax assessor, school
board member, and to\\'nship clerk for 25
years. He has served a total of 61 years as
a public servant.

William (Bill) Williams, fanm-r, has
held office for four terms on the school
board, and 20 years as a member of the
Board of Supervisors.

01i\er Garber, Sr., farmer, ser\ed three
and one-half years as road maintenance
man under Governor Horner, was charter
member of the Spring Bay Cemetery
Board, village treasurer, road commis-
sioner, and served 38 years as a Democratic
Party precinct committeeman for Precinct
No. 1.

Christian Hoshor, farmer, has ser\ed 60
of his 82 years in some public office, ten
years on the Woodford County Board of
Supervisors, 50 years as tax assessor, while
serving several terms as \illage clerk con-
currently.

Sprini:, Buy Tounslu))

Charles Loveless hasn't Ink! a count)- or
township office, but until the last ten \ears
was ver\' active in village affairs.

All through the record books of the tow n-
ship. village, and schools, from the first gen-
eration to the fourth the same family names
are to be found, Ege (John Ege was the
first mayor of .Spring Bay), Fredrich, Sny-
der. Zeller, Winkler, Hoshor, Eichhorn.
Loveless. Fisher, Ahrens, Collins, Spillniaii.
Belsley. Williams, Garber, Loser, and Mil-
ler.

Present Tounaliip Officers. Supervisor,
Wallace Tipsword; tax assessor. Christian
Hoshor; town clerk, Paul Knight; town
auditors, Charles Garber, Lv le E. Hard-
man, and Lawrence E. Nieukirk; highwav-
commissioner, Leslie Allen. Precinct Com-
mitteemen: Precinct No. 1, Clvcle Toler
(R); Precinct No. 2, James Lambie (R);
Precinct No. 1. OHver Garber, Jr. (D); and
Precinct No. 2. Wallace Tip.svvord (D).

Sprinij, Bay \'ill(i<s,e Board. President, Rus-
sel Draggist; village clerk, Nancy Draggist;
zoning officer, Keith Zeller; and the other
five board members, Loval F. OhI, .Andy
Smith. William .Mendenhall, Fred Schaab,
and I iarold Dvc.

Post Office

A post office was established in 1844, and
was the only one in the township. C. C.
Shultz was appointed the first postmaster.
The mail was carried between this place
and Peoria, and after the building of the
Illinois Central Railroad, a vveeklv mail
service was established with Kappa. It was
some time after the establishment of the
post office, before the government vvoidd
allow a contract for carrying the mail, so
whoever chanced to go to Peoria brought
it back, tied in his handkerchief. With
many changes in administrations of the af-
fairs of the office, it passed into the hands
of Charles Keolcher, who was postmaster
in 187cS, with a semi- weekly mail to and
from Peoria. .After Charles Keolcher, Kate
Zeller had the post office in the front of lier
store. Steven Eichhorn was the last carrier
from Peoria. When the svstem of handling

173

tile mail was changed (about the vear
1901 ) the people on the Upper Spring Hav
Road and side roads east of there received
their mail in bo.xes on Route 3, Metamora.
Later the route was divided and todav' it
is Metamora Route 2. Persons living in
Spring Bav' and on the old Hivcr Road re-
ceived their mail addressed Route 35,
Peoria. Illinois. In 191S. the route was
changed again to Peoria Route 6, and re-
mained so until 1952 when the post office
of Peoria split the route again, and now
the Spring Bav* route is Routi' 1, East
Peoria, 111.

Schools

There isn't much information to be ob-
tained on the early schools of this town-
ship. They consisted of a few children col-
lected together at one of the larger cabins
and instructed in "reading, writing, and
ciphering." The first record shows that Mrs.
McQueen taught at her house in 1840;
however, it is probable that similar schools
were taught before this one. For years after
organization of public school no ri'cords
e.xist. The earliest records in the township
arc for the vears beginning 1S62. John Ege,
treasurer of the township in 1862, said they
had all been destroyed previous to that
date. In 1862 the township had two school
districts: School District No. 38 located in
Spring Bay and School District No. 68 in
the .southern part of tlie township.

The first schoolhouse vv^as built in 1846 —
a frame structure of verv' rough workman-
ship costing $.300. There is no record show-
ing the exact location of this building. This
served for 20 vears. and in 1868 was re-
placed 1)V' an elegant brick school house,
"up oil the hill," at Oswego and Tazewell
streets. It cost about §3.000. was two stories
high, and .30x40 ft. in size. There aren't any
records showing the cost ol the first school
built in District No. 68. .Mrs. John Miller
remembers the little, one-room school
standing across the road ( now State Route
26) from the present buildings (now a
priv ate dwelling I that was first known as
School District No. 2 and later School Dis-
trict No. 68. This school was built in 1895.

174

Two bonds of $500 each were sold to fi-
nance the building of the one-room school.

The school board hired Llo\d Engel for
the term of six calendar months at $35 per
month as the first teacher in the new school.
In 1902, School Districts No. 1 and No. 2
were changed to School District No. .38 in
Spring Bay and the other school in the
south end of the township was changed to
District No. 68. Hill Side School District
No. 117 was created and a building erected
in 1911. Until that time, the district's school
children had to go either to one of the
Spring Bay schools or to Lourdes. Hill
Side School was in Worth Touaiship.
Spring Bay High School District No. 119
was created for the school term of 1915-16.
Cecil C. Milleson was hired for a nine
months year at $84 per month. Two years
of high school were taught and there was
an enrollment of 11, four boys and seven
girls. High School was taught in one room
of the grade school. The High School Dis-
trict paid $50 per month rent to the grade
school, supplying their own furniture and
heat for their part of the building.

The impressive brick grade school was
burned to the ground in May of 1918. It
was said that the building was set afire.
However, nothing was ever pro\ed. While
the new grade school was being built, the
elementary grades held school in the vil-
lage hall. High school classes didn't recon-
vene until the new building was finished;
thus, it held only four and one-half months
of school in the following school term. The
succeeding school was built on the same
place. This school was used for both grade
and high school until about 1937 when
another concrete block, two-room and
basement school was built at the corner of
State Route Twenty-six and Illinois Street.
Four years of high school were taught here.
Mrs. Angie Smith was hired as principal.
The Spring Bay High School No. 119 lost
its recognition by the state in 1951. This
action by the state forced the closing of the
Spring Bay High School and the area com-
prising the Riverview Grade School Dis-
trict was automatically annexed to the
Metamora High School District.

Woodford County llistunj

In 1955 the rural elementary schools
were consolidated to form the present
River\'iew Grade School District No. 2,
which is a struggling enterprise. An elec-
tion was held to \ote on the (juestion of
whether or not bonds should be sold to
finance the building of a school to house
all the grades in one building. The propo-
sition passed three to one. The school has
had three additions, yet today it has be-
come crowded, again, needing more space
and more teachers.

Doctors

The first physician wiio practiced in this
section was Dr. Langworth of Peoria,
whose large practice extended o\er on this
side of the ri\er. A Dr. Allen practiced in
Spring Bay in the early years around the
1900's, but little is known of him since he
stayed a very short time. The onl\' doctors
that have stayed with Spring Ba\- have
been Dr. John G. Zeller and Dr. Herman
G. Eichhorn.

Dr. John G. Zeller, one of the prominent
men of the village and township, came
from Bavaria, Germany, in 1847. While at-
tending the St. Louis Medical College he
met the girl he was later to marry, Fred-
erika C. Nicholas, in 1855. She was bom
in Prussia in 1826, and died in Ma\- 1865,
leaving four children, Charles A., George
A., Josephine M., and Frederika C, Dr.
Zeller then married Caroline Winkler.
There were three surx'iving children from
this marriage, Julius, Christine, and Wil-
liam.

Dr. Zeller came up the Mississippi and
Illinois rivers by boat and seeing the pos-
sibilities in Spring Bay, took a little cabin
that had been deserted. After he had be-
come estabhshed, he went back for his
wife. There were few buildings in the
township at this time. When he started his
practice he walked to make house calls
until he could attord a horse. He would
go 15 miles to deliver a baby for the grand
sum of one dollar. A man of intelligence
and education, he always took an active
part in everything calculated to promote
the ad\ancement of his town. The court

Spriiiii Bay Touitsliip

records of the local police magistrate (an
office he held the first years, as well as
coroner), justice of peace records, the
tou-nship and \illage records all showed
him to ha\'e been ver\' active.

Dr. John G. Zeller devoted considerable
attention to grape culture, and was the first
to introduce the Concord, Hartford, and
the N'irginia Seedling in this section. The
Concord has proven to be the only suitable
one for this climate.

Dr. George Zeller. son of Dr. Jolm G.
Zeller, was another of the Zellers to take
an active interest in his village and com-
munitv'. Dr. George Zeller served his coun-
trv' in the Spanish American War, and aft(>r
that served 30 years in the Welfare Depart-
ment of the State Hospital for the insane at
Bartonville, Illinois. .-Xt his retirement he
remained at the hospital as consulting as-
sistant to the new managing officers. He
did much research in mental illness prior
to being recogni/ed as one of the world's
foremost alienists. Dr. G. Zeller was one
of the first hospital managers in the country
to bring about reform in the care of the
insane. He began a system of classification
of the various tvpes of insanitv' with a plan
of care and treatment for each. Just re-
cently a new clinic in Peoria, Illinois, has
been given the Ztller name in honor of
Dr. George Zeller.

The only other well known doctor from
Spring Bay was a cousin of Dr. George
Zeller, Dr. Herman G. Eichhom. Bom at
Spring Bay April 20, 1872, he was the old-
est son of Peter and Catherine Winkler
Eichhom. He graduated from Northwest-
em Universitv', where he received his medi-
cal degree in 1S96. Setting up an office in
Spring Bay, he began his career as a coun-
trv' doctor, practicing here for IS years be-
fore he niov ed to Peoria and opened offices
in tlic Central National Bank Building in
1914.

After 50 vears he retired from active
practice and moved back to Spring Bay,
where he established a small office in his
home and continued to see patients until
his death September 28, 1962.

During the years when residents of

175

Spring Bav had to depend on doctors from
the towns of other connuunities, women
often depended on mid-wives for deliver-
ing babies. Mrs. Minnie Fischer (92 years
old — oldest resident of Spring Bav') often
was called even before the doctor was
called. The roads were sometimes impass-
able and telephone service unreliable. It
was the custom in those days to deliver the
babies at home. Mrs. Fischer .says she has
no idea how many babies she has helped
to deliver. She lost count long ago.

Fire Department and Jail

There is verv' little information about
the first jail, except references to the cala-
boose in the old court records and in the
minutes of the village board meetings. In
the earlier days the jail and fire department
were housed in the same building.

The people now living in Spring Bay,
who remember the fire department in the
early 1900's, .say that if the fire was near
the firehouse the men would pull the
wagon that held the tank of water to the
fire, and if the fire was more than two
l^locks avvav'. someone hitched his team to
the wagon to pull it to the fire. On Decora-
tion Day the fire wagon and tank were
decorated and the Spring Bav' Band and
school children would march from the jail
house to the cemetery for the ceremony at
the cemetery. In Januarv' of 1919 the vil-
lage paid 50 cents to Revilo Snn'th for re-
moving the ice from the "fire tank."

For vears Spring Bay was without a fire
department until the Spring Bay N'olunteer
Fire Department was organized December
10, 1952. Fire House No. 1 stands where
the old Eiclihorn brewery stood. The
ground was given by J. George Zeller.

Fire House No. 2 was built in the fall of
1964 and spring of 1965 on State Route 26,
soutli of the Grandview Mobile Home
Court in the northern edge of Tazewell
Count)-. Flovd Wilkv' gave the ground on
a 20-year lease with option of renewing the
lease in exchange for fire protection for the
trailer court. The fire department has five
trucks and rescue equipment. The county
judge appoints the board of trustees. Pres-

176

ent board is Oliver E. Garlier, president;
Bruno II. Baldacci, treasurer; and Eugene
McCarty, secretary.

The first jail stood on Oregon Street, be-
tween Illinois and Caroline. The second
building that housed the jail still stands
today, in a deplorable condition. In the
sunnner, grass grows in the gutters. This
building v\'as first built as a d\\'elling and
saloon combination by William Walker.
Mrs. Minnie Fischer, born April 11, 1875
(a daughter of Mathias Alfred Williams),
moved into the building with her family
when she \\'as ten. It was sometime after
this that the building became the jail for
the village.

In the early days the constable was paid
by the arrests he made; an example in
February 1920, the \illage \oted to pay the
constable $2 per month plus a percentage
of the fines levied from each arrest. In
July 1934, George Faller was appointed as
special poficeman with a salary of $1.50 per
week and allowed a $1.50 for each arrest.
The books of the \illage for the month of
August showed that everything must have
been quiet, or George was \'ery tolerant of
misdemeaners, since he received payment
for only one fine.

War Record

This township, though small, was no lag-
gard in furnishing soldiers in the Ci\il War.
Man\' Spring Bay men ser\ed in the Eighty-
fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and the
Seventy-seventh Regiment Illinois \'okm-
teer Infantry.

The Spanish American War of 189S took
a number of the men from Spring Bay as
can be seen from the inscription on the
monuments in the cemeteries in the town-
ship.

Our small tounship was also well repre-
sented in the first World War.

Of all our boys who serxed in the Sec-
ond World War, onh' two failed to return
— Frank Hardcastle died overseas and Gil-
bert Loser was killed in action.

Spring Bay has furnished her quota of
bovs to the War of Vietnam — some \\'ho

Woodford County History

have served and returned; others who are
in training or fighting now.

Churches

Perhaps the first religious services in this
township were held by the Methodists, who
sent their ministers here at a \'ery early
date. Who preached the first sermon is not
known, but a Methodist minister — a Rev.
Mr. Lattey — was one of the first. Before
1905 there \\'ere no churches in the com-
munity and the people met in private
homes or the \illage hall for religious serv-
ices. The old records of the xillage show
that the \illage board did not charge any
fee for a funeral service held in the hall,
but did sometimes charge a small fee for
church ser\ices.

Mrs. Harriet Hurlbert, daughter of An-
gus McQueen (who came to Spring Bay in
1837), organized a Sunday School that was
conducted in the town hall. It flourished
for more than 50 years. Mrs. Hurlbert had
two daughters, who were a great help to
her in her church work. It is said that
Fanny Hurlbert refused to walk on the
cement walks after they were built by the
village because some of the money to build
them was from the rexenue from the sale
of liquor ficenses. ( Mr. Hurlbert read the
address welcoming President Martin Van
Buren, when he honored Peoria \\'ith a
visit. He later joined the gold rush in 1851
and never returned. )

First Church. The Hollands Grove Cir-
cuit sent preachers to Spring Bax' for many
years without apparent results. Twenty-six
different men served from 1861 to 1899.
Phillip Boucher served from 1899 to 1902
and claimed he was the first preacher to be
allowed to stay overnight in Spring Bay.
In the days of F. Thiess. from 1902 to 1905,
the attitude of the people changed, follow-
ing a revival meeting in \\ hich some were
converted. Mrs. Caroline Zeller and Mrs.
Katherine Guenther, ( sisters ) each gave
$1,000 toward erection of a church and
parsonage. The church was dedicated on
June 4, 1905. ( Pastor at that time was F. W.
Doede. ) It was known as the Evangelical
Association. The building cost $4,700 and

Sprhtii Bay Township

111

KL B

Kwiimrlical I'nitc-il Brc

the iiidcbti'diu'ss was still 82,301) on the da\
t)f dedication. By tlic end of the da\'. and
after three ser\ices, the people had raised
the additional nione\' to pa\' the debt. In
1910, Rev. \\". .Alhrecht was pastor. Kroiii
1910 until 1934 the church had 1 1 pastors.
He\-. J. F. Sahlin serxed from 19.35 to 1952
and is the best known ot the pastors. In
October 1922, the name was changed to
Evangelical Church following a merger.
The parsonage burned on Feliruary 28,
1933, and was rebuilt the following sum-
mer.

In 19-47. the name was again changed to
the Evangelical United Bri>thren (.'hurch
following a merger with the United Breth-
rtn in CHirist. Work was begun in 19.50 on
the north wing (Christian Education Unit,
which was dedicated September 16, 1951.

In 19.56-57 remodeling was done and the
building was rededicated on October 20,
1957.

Bayvieic Baptist C'lmnh. The Ba\\iew
Baptist Church was organized 1)\ Mr. and
Mrs. Ogle Uiple and Mr. and .Mrs. Ccorge
Cagle. with approximatcK' 1.5 members.
They met at first in the \illagc hall. Mr.
Ogle Riple was the first minister. In 19.55,
during tin- ministrx of (Charles Ilargraxes
and with a membership of approximateh
40, a building was erected in the northwest

llircii C;Iiunh in .Sprint: Bay.

corner of Ba\\iew. (ierald Tlioinpson is the
present minister.

Cemeteries

There are, in this \car of 196S, ten burial
plots to be found in Spring Bay Township,
flight of them are small, ranging in size
from two to two dozen gra\es with mark-
ers. These are scattered about the com-
munitv-. The other two are organized ceme-
teries — the Spring Ba\ C^'meterN' and the
Sand Hill Cemetery.

The Sand Hill Cemeter\-. a beautiful lit-
tle cemetery upon the hillside, a mile nortli
of Spring Creek on the Spring Bay black-
top, contains the gra\es of some of the
earliest settlers. Maintenance is financed b\-
ta.xation and the cemetery board ol three
consists of Jack Rahn. John Scliaci-. and
Ernest Berrx'.

The largest cemetery in the township is
the Spring Bay Cemetery, east of the north-
east corner of the \illage. The eenieter\'
board was organized February 29, 1929,
and a certificate of incorporation was filed
March 12, 1929. The board consisted of six
members appointed In the county judge.
In 1966 it was cut to fixe members. The
first board members \xere William Zcller,
president; Roy Belslx , treasurer; Harry
Winkler, clerk; \\'alter Hoffman, Lexxis

178

Goehring, and Olixcr Carber. Tho upkeep
of the cemcten- is financed through a per-
manent care fund (three-fourths of the
money from the sale of lots). The remain-
ing one-fourth is used for operating ex-
penses. The older part of the cemetery
began as a Goehring family Inuial plot;
Goehring being the first settler on the
ground.

Organizations in the Community

There have been nian\' organizations in
the communit\- during its history; 1836 to
1968.

One of the most popular organizations
was the Spring Bay Band that was organ-
ized in 1909. Spring Bay had a chapter of
Red Cross in 1917 and they were the first
ones to use the new park pa\ilion for a
Fourth of July benefit dance.

The Grangers, No. 186.3, was organized
in 1932. It had a program of recreation and
education for its members, yet it also
served as recreation center for the com-
munity. Members of the Zeller family con-
tributed much to the building of the
Grange hall.

The American Legion Post 1115 of
Spring Bay is the oldest organization in the
community at the present time. It was or-
ganized December 10, 1946, x\ ith 15 mem-
bers — Lou Kohl was commander, and Wil-
Ham Miller, adjutant.

Spring Ba\- Legion Officers

Commander — Harry Reeves
Vice Commander — Ernest Berry
Finance Officer — Jack Rahn
Adjutant — Robert Pears

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit
1115 was organized early in 1947.

The Legion sponsors the Little League
ball team. Since 1951, they have held a
Watermelon Festi\'al (third week of Au-
gust) as the major fund raising drive. This
festival gives Spring Bay its major com-
munity entertainment of the year. The
festival consists of a large exhibit tent for
merchants of the surrounding area, a carni-
val, concessions, food tent, watermelons
and cantaloupes by the hundreds, plus

Woodford County Histonj

three nights of free entertainment.

The C.P.A., Community Club of Parents,
of Spring Bay Township (organized in
1954) was instrumental in organizing the
three schools; Spring Bay, Bluff\'iew, and
Hillside into one school district — The Con-
solidated School District No. 2 of Wood-
ford Count>'. The school was named River-
view School. After a few years, attendance
and interest in the Club dropped, so the
club reformed into the present day P.T.A.
and is affiliated with the National P.T.A.
organization.

Historical Places

Spring Bay has many historical spots, but
few of them are marked. There are no signs
of the levee, except for a few rocks, seen
when the Illinois River is at its lowest
stage. All signs of the Hoshor Mill, the
Eichhom Brewerv, in fact, all of the earHest
buildings are gone. There are several
houses in the Bay that a\'erage 100 to per-
haps 125 years in age, such as the former
home of Dr. H. Eichhom, now occupied by
William Mitchel; the old home of Mrs.
CTuenther, now owned by Joe Loser; and
the home of Captain C. A. and Kate Zeller
now owned by Clara Louise Zeller, their
granddaughter. It was considered the man-
sion of the Bay and still remains the most
beautiful home in Spring Bay Village.
The Cave. The only other significant
heritage from the pioneer days is the
man-made cave which was built one-half
mile south of Spring Ba>-, Uhnois, on the
Spring Bay blacktop road. Peter Eichhom,
Sr. located in Spring Bay. 111., and built a
brewery and also the ca\e.

This underground ca\'e is \ery impres-
si\e having depth of 60 feet with a ceiling
which is arched to a height of 12 feet. The
entire cave is constructed of limestone,
which was transported down the Illinois
River by boat from Joliet, 111. long before
the Civil War.

Reminiscences of a Thriving Era

In Spring Bay's golden days, before the
decline, a farmer could take his grain into
one of the warehouses and while in town

Spriiii: Bay Toini.slii))

could purchase or trade for anything from
axle grease, hairpins, hard candies, garters,
corsets, calico dresses to nails, wire, or
rope. There were hardware stores, grocer-
ies, farm suppK" stores, blacksmith shops.
shoe cobbler, cabinet maker, and last but
not least the saloon where he could buy the
"cup that cheers," and s\\ap gossip with
other patrons. Beer was a nickel a glass
(man sized), and whiskey a dime a shot,
and there was plenty of trade to supply
business for three saloons. The licenses
averaged for most of the years, $500. Busi-
ness began to decHne a little in 1860, but
not to an\- great degree until the beginning
of the 19th centur\-. The railroads pro\ idcd
a more rapid and economical coniii'ction
with the outside markets of the Micldle
West and reduced the interest in the slower
and less efficient transportation at the water
port in Spring Bay. The \illage board. fulK'
aware of the problems of the comnumit)',
tried in 1901 to reju\'enate the river traffic
by leasing lots 13 and 14 (the site of the
old le\ee) to Smith and Hippen Co. of
Pekin, for 25 years for $25. The village do-
nated $200 to the compan\' to help repair
the le\'ee. The company again leased the
levee in 1926 for another ten years for $25.
but ceased doing business by 1930. Sol
Winkler was the first manager at the ware-
house, which stood high on pilings. The
area underneath was fenced to hold cattle
and hogs until the da>' of shipment b\' boat
to the northern markets.

Three business enterprises kept steadily
going while others came and went. One was
Kate Zeller's combination grocery, dry
goods, and harness store. Mrs. Zeller
opened the store, known as Kate's, soon
after her marriage to Captain C. A. Zeller
in Januar\- 1880, and operated it until
the late 1920's. The other grocery belonged
to Mary Glauser Shawgo, who operated her
store from about 1914 until her death in
1940.

In 1930 Bessie Dunnington opened a gas-
oline station on Lake Street. In the first
year she added soft drinks and ice cream
and it became a meeting place for the
\ounger set. There was a need for such a

179

place as it was either here or the ta\ern
for any public informal get-together. .-Kfter
an attempted robbery after sunset at Mar\'
Shawgo's grocery, Mary refused to remain
open after dark: at the reciuest of the farm
people who worked until dark, Bessie Dun-
nington began to stock flour, sugar, salt,
and other staples; thus she drifted into the
grocery business which she ran until 1940.

Walter Stramka opened his gas station in
1940 and mo\'ed into his newh' erected
grocery and service station in 1950. Also
in 1940, Arthur Dixon opened a grocery
and gasoline business.

In 1951. there were onl\ tliree business
enterprises left in Spring Bay. two grocer-
ies and one tavern, the Walter Stramka
store and the George Loser store, George
operated his grocery and service station
until 1956. ("harle\' Barth owned tlic ta\ern
in 1951.

Down througli time this area has liad
dealers in lumber — Gottfried Jung was one
of the first. Ernest Fredericks, Ege, Hoshor,
Lewis Williams, Scheerers, Spillman, Hoff-
man, Loser, Lo\eless, Bennett, and perhaps
others had saw mills at one time or anotiier.
Spring Bay afforded plent\' of timber for all
the early buildings and farm purposes,
thougli tile best of it, such as walnut,
was (luickly thinned out. The finishing
lumber of white walnut for Metamora
Courthouse came from the Johnson .Milling
Co. of Spring Ba\-. Now there is \er\' little
hardwood timber left in the township.

The all time flourishing business from the
first days until toda\- has b(>en the saloon.

"Rough Little Town in the 'SO's"

Spring Ba\' in its he\da\' won a reputa-
tion as a "rough Httle town." No doubt the
abundance of saloons had something to do
with this ri'putation. Log rollings, house
raisings, "com bees" for the men and the
quilting bees for the women were numer-
ous, alwa\s winding up with a dance at
night. An occasional horse race enlivened
the scene, at which times whiskey flowed,
things became li\el\', and a bloody nose
and bruised head were sometimes the re-
sult of this innocent pastime. If a judgment

ISO

can lie iiiadf troni the records of tlic justice
of peace office, around LSSS. e\er>' Satur-
day night things became li\ely in Spring
Bay and some excitement could always be
found. With the fl()\\' of the beverages from
the saloons, old grudges and imagined
grudges erupted into fights, and sometimes
just for the pure fun of it all, fist fights
could be expected. Monday morning in
1S85 and years of that era there would be
the hearings before John C. Zeller, Pete
Loser or another of the justices of the
peace. The following was taken from cases
tried and recorded. The names ha\c been
omitted for olnious reasons: "State of Illi-
nois, Woodford County, People vs. ;

Personalh' appeared before J. C. Zeller
-, who being duly sworn deposes and

^Voodforil County History
by shooting into tlie

says that he has just and reasonable

grounds to believe that did at and

within the County of Woodford and the
State of Illinois on or about the 23rd of
Januaiy 1885, unlawfulh" beat, strike, kick,
scratch, choke, assault, and batter one

against the peace and dignity of the

people of the State of Illinois, and contrary
to the form of the Statute, Warrant issued
and defendant brought into court on the
.30th of Januar>- 1885. Prisoners gave bond
and trial continued to February 9, 1885 at
9 o'clock A.M." Defendants (there were
four of them ) appeared and pleaded guilty
to the charges of assault and battery and
were fined the amount of $3 and costs.
John C. Zeller, J. P.

The court cost usually brought the cost
approximately to $8. Another case arising
from the same period and is referred to in
the records as a riot was: "State of Illinois,
Woodford County, People vs. ( some of the
same group mentioned above) et al. Riot.

Personally appeared before J. C.

Zeller, J. P. vvho being duly sworn

deposes and says that he has just and rea-
sonable grounds to believe that did

and within the County of Woodford, and
State of Illinois, on or about the 24th day
of January 1885 unlawfully with force and
violence break and destroy the sasli win-
dows glass and doors of the house of

and in a violent manner lay seige

to house of

windows, tlirowing deadly missiles, threat-
ening tlie life of said seriously en-
dangering the lives of numerous occupants
of the house then and there being contrary
to the form of the Statute. Warrant issued
and defendants brought into court January
30, 1885." Prisoners gave bond and trial
continued to February 9, 1885, at 9 o'clock
A.M. Later the defendants were found
guilty and duly fined. The more serious
cases were bound over to the Circuit Court
in Metamora.

From the above cases we can see why
the village enacted the following ordinance
of wliich only one part is here recorded:
Sec. I, ord. 2— That it shall l:>e unlawful
for any person or persons within the vil-
lage to make or create an\' loud or unusual
noise by blowing of horns, bugles, or other
instruments, or by beating drums, kettles,
or other sounding vessels, or by the ringing
of bells, or crying of goods tending to col-
lection of persons on the street or side-
walks, or by loud boisterous singing, bel-
lowing, whooping, screaming, hollowing,
scolding, traducing, threatening, quarrel-
ing, swearing, cursing, challenging to fight,
uttering obscene languages or conversation,
or by creating false alarms as by crying
fire, watch for police, nor shall any persons
in said town disturb peace of any street,
lane, alley, neighborhood or person by any
of the means whatever, and every person
convicted of any of the offenses enumer-
ated in this section shall forfeit and pay a
sum not less than three nor more than one
hundred dollars each offense. — 1886, July —
Charles A. Zeller, President; Thomas C.
Loveless, town clerk.

On the Fourth of Julv' there were usually
planned festivities — parades, picnics, and
dances — at the park pavilion. Steamboats
arrived in port everv' week; the medi-
cine show came to town, or some theatrical
group would give a play such as "Uncle
Tom's Cabin," or the old Cotton Blossom
Showboat would make an appearance. The
best way to get to Peoria (after it had be-
come a metropolis) was to go bv' boat in
the morning, do the shopping, and then re-

Sprini: 8(11/ Tonnshii)

turn in tlic atUTiioon In tlu' saiiR' boat.

Around 1918, the \illage began to graxel
the streets; also, al^out this time, tlic first
concrete walks were poured.

In the earher days the streets of Spring
Bay were lighted by kerosene lamps. In
1897 a lamp lighter was paid two cents per
light to ligiit the 35 kerosene lamps each
night. B\ 1.S90, lamplighters received S30
per month for lighting and keeping lamps
in good repair. The \illage paid the presi-
dent of the board S24 per \ ear, plus S 1 for
each arrest. Another expense of earlier tla\s
was the cleaning of tlio board walks. A
man received three cents per board and
those that were fined for assault and bat-
tery charges could either pa\ their fine or
work the fine out b\- cleaning the board
walks, '^lar around the hea\ iest expense
was till' up-keep of the streets. Since the
streets were mosth" sand, load after load
of straw was purchased, and used to add
firmness to the sand\ soil. There were al-
ways weeds to be cut in summer, snow to
be shoxcled in winter, and straw to be
spread an\ time the streets were frozen.
Tlu' \ illage pound was a fenced area where
all stra\- animals were placed until called
h)r by the owner. The owner of the animal
had to pa\- a board bill for said animal.
Ik-re is an interesting (|uote from a June
15, 191S village meeting: "Mosed b\- Min-
nie Fischer and seconded b\- Jenme l-'iseher
that the police notify all parties having
stock running at large, that the\ must keep
them up, also no stock be allowed staked
on the street at night — Motion carried.
Spring Ba\ continued (in some ways) to
make progress and lose in another as the
population continued to dwindle for a few-
years as shown b\ the U.S. Census Bureau:

1940

157

1950

203

19fi0

2S5

Year

yillag,e

Toniish

1S60

515

1870

235

1880

175

1890

147

1900

128

1910

119

220

1920

169

1930

210

181

383

649

1,555

driving the seven miles down State
Route 26 from the south to the north end
of the township, the countryside still, in
1968, has the appearance of being chiefly
an agricultural area, but today the town-
ship has another village— Bayvievv Gardens
— and several subdivisions. Spring Beach
(three subdivisions). Spring Bay Gardens,
Barron, Schmidt, Spring Bav' Knolls, and
Garbers. There was one other subdivision.
Siesta Channels, that was annexed to
Spring Bay on October 3, 1966.

Bayview Gardens

October 9, 1966. the citi/ens of Ba\ view
Gardens met at the Bav v iew Baptist
Church to vote on the (juestion whether to
incorporate or not. The>- voted to incor-
porate. Since Bavv iew (iardens was less
than one mile from the boundarv of Spring
Bay, it first had to get approval of Spring
Bay to incorporate. Approval was granted,
and .Articles for Incorporation were filed
Januarv- 4, 1967. An election was held at
the church and the following village board
was elected: Arthur R. .Meyer, president;
Loretta Allen, village clerk; Pauline Loef-
fler, treasurer (appointed); Elmer Loef-
fler, \'estel Dykes, Orval Scheiter, Michael
A. Gordon, \'ictor L. Patterson, and Cieorge
T. Flanagan, trustees.

Bavview Clardens is Spring Bav' Town-
ship's largest village at this time with a
population of 449.

Business Directory of 1968

Bavview Clardens has four industrial
enterprises at the prc>sent time — Garbers
Service Station, and Garbers Marine Sales
and Service owned by D;uiiel Garber
opcMied in 1954; Jans Market opc-ned for
business in August 1964; and Melv in Aliens
Trucking started in 1963.

Spring Bay's business area includes two
.Marine boat docks operated by Keith Zel-
ler since 1963 and Richard Hamm, 1965.
Cvriis Swabv- opened his tavern on .August

182

4, 1967, and Urlagene's, a grocery and pack-
age licjuor store, owned and operated by
Eugene McCarty since 195S. George A.
Zeller II opened the Econette Cruiser and
Marina in October 1957. 1949 was the be-
ginning year for the Bruce Rich & Sons
Auto Sales, and for several years Kohl's
Garage, south of the Bay, has served the
area. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Garber have
had a meat-processing plant in operation
since 1960. James Lambie has developed
a recreation area for house trailers which

Woodford County History

at tile present has 90 Iiouse trailers sur-
rounding a man-made lake.

Since only a small percentage of the materials
gathered was used I would like to thank all of
those interviewed and whose stories and informa-
tion that does not appear in the book, It would
be impossible to list all the indi\'iduals who
helped. Here are a few of them: members of the
Zeller family, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Loveless,
hen Hesselein, Bessie Dunnington, Christian Ho-
shor, Mr. and Mrs. Russel Draggist, Ida Hoffman,
Mrs. J. F. Sahlill, Mr. and Mrs. George Loser, Mr.
and Mrs. John Miller, Perry Collins, and 01i\er
Garber, Sr.

Worth Tovvnsliij)

I'll

Mks. Pkikh RoilMAN

This iownmiii', wliicli was orgaiii/.t'cl in
1852, is lioumh'd on tlie soutli by Tazewell
Count\-. on tlic west b\ Spring Bay Town-
ship, on tlie north h\' Partridge Township,
and Metamora Township on the east. Halt
of the towiisliip is excellent prairie for
farming, along with some timbered land,
while the other hall is broken and hilly
with high bhiHs and deep brakes along the
two main ereeks. I'artridgi' and Ten Mil<'.
The abnndant fine (|ualit\ timbers attracted
the earhest settlers since the\' used it in
log houses and for making wagons and
furniture. The soil is well wati'red b\
streams and their man\ tributaries and
well drained b\- sloping land. It is belie\ed
to have been named Worth for some Indian
leader with that name.

The highwa\s in Worth ari' mosth w ind-
ing and hilly in the wood-elad areas in the
west end. In the early da\s it was impos-
sible to build roads along the section lines
due to the enormous expense and labor
ni\ol\-ed in building man\ bridges and
grading down steep hills. Toda\ . the
scener\' along the winding roads is pie-
turesciue. For inan\- years the dirt roads
were often impassable, but gradually, as
automobiles came into use. some w(>re
gra\i'led, others black-topped; then in the
I92()"s the pa\('d highwa\ through CJer-
mantowTi to Peoria was a reality. At pres-
ent most roads are improved throughout
the area.

Various Indian tribes, including the
Foxes. Sacs, and Ottawas, had roamed the
land and left much evidence of their pri's-
ence. Man\' Indian arrows, axes, and l)eads
have been h)und in the plowed fields, skel-
etons in Indian burial grounds have been
unearthed. The wooded land protected

these earlv' people from storms in winter
and the prairies, woods and streams fur-
nished them an abundance of food such
as: deer, rabbits, s(|uirrels, prairie chickens,
w ild turkeys and fish.

Back in I8(S7, in spite of the rugged and
sloping soil. Worth was one of the most
flourishing areas in Woodford County. Im-
migrants came from Ccrmanv', .\lsaee, Eng-
land, Ireland, I'rance. Bavaria and Prussia.
It is recorded that a small log cabin was
built as earh' as LS.'il bv' a Mr. Soward.
and the Rev . Zadack Hall, a pioneer Metho-
dist minister, pre-empted a claim to some
land when> Cermantown Hills is now lo-
cated, and built a cabin. It seems the earlv'
comers avoided the eastern areas since it
lacki-d timber and thev' called it a "desert".

The (iermantown House was built about
1S50 by Will Hoslior. It housed a tavern
and grocery where food and lodging were
provided for weary travelers. Later it was
used as a dance hall and stood until about
1932. Frank Trapp operated the House for
some vears. but David \\'issell was the last
one to live there. Mr. Iloshor also built a
sawmill at Germantown. There w^as a
blacksmith shop, too.

The Union House on Houle I 16. where
the State Police Headquarters now stands,
was built more than 100 years ago and
Peter Alig operated a tavern and small
grocerv' there. It was also used as a meeting
place for official business. For a time a Boss
family owned it: the Bossmans, .Xnton
Ivneip and families lived there main' years
and after their death the farm was .sold
to Frnest Sullivan. Jcseph Schaidle bought
the house and several acres, lint soon sold
it to the state. The old landmark was razed,
and a h:uidsome brick structure was built

183

184

which has been headquarters since 1964.

Hickor\- Point, about 3 miles west of
Metamora, was liuilt about 1(S60 by Chris
Delabough and John Sluga operated a
lager beer ta\em there. This was also the
first meeting house and polling place in
Worth Township. A number of years later
a school house was built.

Jacob Schuck was the first super\isor
when Worth was organized; Mr. Benjamin
Williams tlie first justice of the peace, Jeff
Hoshor was constable, and Joseph Vetter
served as school trustee. Peter Engel settled
in Worth in 1829 and held se\eral offices.
Justice Williams held his office for many
years. He united many couples in marriage.
When couples were not happy and wished
a separation they came to him; he said if
he could marry folks why couldn't he "un-
marr\'" them? Another amusing incident
was told \\'hen the Bro\\'n \s. Soward case
was brought before Justice Williams. It
seems that Mr. So\\'ard, who was being
sued by Mr. Broun, had sworn he would
"whip Brown on sight." The day of the
trial he "pitched onto him." The 'Squire
said, "Set the chairs back and gi\e 'em
room." He would allow no interference un-
til one said "nuff". So the case was decided.

From a brick )'ard operated by Peter
Wiltz came the building material for man)
local houses. Henry Schwing was the first
blacksmith in Worth, and about 1860 Mr.
Hoshor built a saw mill operated \\ith
steam.

Lourdes was an early settlement in the
township. There was a saloon, with Adam
Bauer in charge, and a postoffice and
grocery store with a shoe repair shop oper-
ated by Henry Theobald. The outgoing
mail was taken to Metamora by horseback
twice a week and the mail for the area resi-
dents was brought back for delivery.

Among early pioneers, names associated
with Worth were Webber, Belsley, Simons,
Wagner, Kerker, Alig, Tool. Noe, Zilch,
Schertz, Brownfield, Naffziger, Cress,
Smith, Molitor, Esch, Blum, West, Grove,
Fischer, Schwenk, Koopman, and Winkler.
Other names in Worth were Rev. John
Boen, John Sunderland and son Thomas,

Woodford County History

Samuel Beck, Peter Bauer, Leonhard Hes-
selein, Benjamin Kindig, John M. Keru,
and John B. Smith.

Nicholas Fandel came from Prussia in
1858; his wife was Eva Alig. Jacob, Killian,
and Fred Grebner came in 1852. Jacob
loerger came from Germany in 1836 and
bought a farm that his grandson Clarence
loerger and his wife still occup\' at this
time.

Adolf Haedicke came from Germany in
1836, married Hanna Brautigan and settled
on a farm near the Tazewell County line;
at present his son and grandsons still live
diere. Johannes Simon and wife came from
Abstadt-Bavaria with their eight daughters
in 1850. They settled where Far Hills is
now located and remained there all their
lives; their daughters married men from
that area. In a recent famih' history it was
revealed that this famiK' now has nearly
5,000 descendants.

Conrad Kerker of Bavaria arri\ed in
1829, and married Elizabeth Simon. His
grandchildren still Hnc on the farm he
bought near Lourdes. Michael Kiese\\etter
came in 1857, bought a farm and in 1864
was drafted in the Arm>' where he ser\ed
until the end of the war. George Noe was
also a settler from Germany who came to
Worth with his two sons, John and Peter.
Franz Parr came from Ba\aiia and married
E\a Stenger. After her death he married
Gertrude Ahg.

William Schwenk married Fannie Kerker
in 1848; he \\'as a caipenter, casket maker,
and a farmer. Lorenz Schneider, also a
farmer, married Katherine Simon.

Charles Theobald from Prussia married
Anna Simon. Frank Trapp, a nati\e of Ba-
\aria. married Gertrude Berkman; he died
in 1862. Joseph \'etter of Wurtemburg mar-
ried Elizabeth Groener.

Daniel Wagner, son of Jacob and
Margaret Wagner came from Germany
and married Mary Sharp. He was a farmer
and cattleman in Worth Tov\iiship. Christ
Schertz, son of Daxid, came from France
in 1837. He built a log cabin in Worth
Township. ha\ ing no sto\ e his wife cooked
all the meals by an open fire in a fireplace.

\Voilh Touiwhi])

Joseph Garber came from o\erseas b>' \\a\-
of New Orleans. During a stop in Tennes-
see he became ill and died. His son Peter
came to Worth and lived here all his life.
Peter Schertz whose father. Da\id, came
from France in 1S37 spent his lite in
\\'orth, also.

The Brownfields. John, Christ, and Tom,
settled here in l.S;32. John was the father of
19 children. It was reported that the prop-
erty now owned b\- the William Schneiders
in Germantown Hills was owned b\' Tom
Brownfield about 1838.

Martin Summers, an eccentric old Ger-
man, settled near Germantown Hills long
ago; he lived in a log cabin which stood on
a high bluff oxerlooking ^^'olf Creek, a
branch of Ten Mile Creek.

There are no railways passing through
Worth Township; nor are there any towns.
The \\inding road through Germantown
Hills was named the "Old Mill Road" be-
c;iuse it was the main road to the mill
whicli was on the ri\er bank. Mill Point
Trailer Court is located near the site of the
mill which was destroyed by high w;iter
man\' years ago. After 1888 there was a
wooden bridge crossing the river, but
previous to that time there was a ferr}-
wliich con\e\ed p;issengers and goods
across the ri\er for a small charge. It left
the east side of the ri\er near the Ten Mile
Oeek and reached the Peoria side ne;ir the
old Al ["resco P;uk. Tlie road through
Lourdes to Met;unora was known as Santa
Fe or Sexen Hills; some \ears ago part of
it was closed, but at one time this was the
oni\' road from Nh'tamora to Peoria. About
1943 ;i count)- r();id was built connecting
Route 116 at the police station with Route
26, between Lacon ;uid Spring Ba\-.

Much of the wooded land has been
zoned for residential areas. Tlie numerous
subdi\isions include: Far Hills, Skyline
Drive, Edgewood Hills, Maple L;uie, Jerr\-
ville. Murphy's Lane, Timberlan Road,
^\'o()dland Knolls, Forest Dri\ (>, 0;ik Ridge,
Alconinirv Ro;id, H\erl\ "s Hills, F;mdel
Road, Parkway Drive, Valkn \'iew, Fe-
iiestr;i Drixe, Sunrise Terrace, and Rob-
binswood.

185

\\'orth is a farming area and in the 20's
and 30's there were acres of fine berries as
well as many excellent apple, peach, apri-
cot and cherry orchards and well-kept \ine-
\ards. But these are now mosth' in the
memories of the past.

An old record of 1877 re\eals at th;it time
in Worth Township th(> following table of
crops were listed as:

Wheat 2,595 acres

Corn 4,070 acres

Oats 807 acres

Meadow 1,265 acres

Pasture 389 acres

Orchards 290 acres

Woodland 13,024 acres

In 1954 Oak Gro\ e was incorporated but
on June 27, 1967, it was decided to name
the communitx- Germ;mtown Hills. The \il-
lage now has a supermarket, three filling
stations, a 20-unit Motel, restaurant, farm
store with nursery and museum, barber
shop, garage, launderette, beauty parlors,
tavern, Schrepfer and Martin Lumber and
Iiardware store, and a library. The school,
firehouse, two churches, and Novitiate are
public buildings. The town hall serves as a
meeting hall, polling place and road main-
tenance shop. The library is located in one
room of the Christ Church building.

Industries in Worth are Roanoke — Con-
crete-Products Plant and Caterpillar Prov-
ing Grounds, where a new road has been
constructed from the old stiitc road to the
Tazewell County line.

Ernest Harroun operates a slaughtering
and meat-processing establishment on his
farm a short distance from Hickorv' Point,

LloNxl Schumacher purchased 10 acres
from Colman Alig on Route 116 al)out
three miles east of (lermantown Hills and
in 1966 opened a modern garage and serv-
ice station.

William Schneider has a cider and wine
press by his garage in Germantown Hills.
This was the site of the old blacksmith shop
of davs gone by. There were also several
sorghum mills, where the sugar cane was
taken to be pressed.

186

Woodford County History

Churches

The first Cathohc church built in Wortli
was on the site of the present cenieter>- of
St. Mary's at Lourdes. The area was first
called "Black Partridge" for an old Indian
Chief of this \icinity, but the name was
soon changed to "Lourdes."

It is related that the family of Nicholas
Phillips who came from Loudray, France
in 1827, was the first Catholic family to set-
tle there, but more soon followed. In 18.39.
the first priest who came to \isit that new
community was Father Jolin Raho from
LaSalle on a missionary tour. He celebrated
Mass in a home or out-of-doors. He re-
ceived permission from Bishop Rosita to
build a church in 1840. The logs came from
nearby timbers and all the good pioneers
worked diligently in the erection of the
humble building. Fathers from Ottawa and
Joliet came once a month to minister to the
faithful. The nearest Bishop then was Rt.
Rev. Kendick at St. Louis. Priests later
came from Peoria and Chicago. In 1855 a
new brick church was built across the road
for $12,000 and was dedicated to the Im-
maculate Conception of Mar)'. The build-
ing is the present structure and Mass is
celebrated every Sunday. Father Mager
came in 1871 and serxed the parish until
his death in 1881 and is the only Priest
buried in the St. Mary's Cemetery at
Lourdes.

The parish house was built in 1871 for
the pastor's residence; an addition was put
on in 1884, but about 1923 the pastor took
np his residence in Metamora and the
house was rented to other tenants. In 1940
the house was completely remodeled by
the parishioners and used by the Sisters
who taught school until the school closed
in 1955.

The congregation has grown rapidh' and
now numbers 450; Rev. Fr. Aurelian
Munsch O.F.M. is the present Pastor and
has been there for the past se\en years.
During his stay much has been done to
impro\'e and beautify both the exterior and
interior of the old church.

During the pastorate of Fr. Caesar Kron

(1924-1928), a huge outdoor Grotto was
erected with the help of the whole parish.
It is an exact replica of the original Grotto
at Lourdes, France and will be a lasting
memorial. It was built with colored stones
of all sizes gathered by the men of the
parish. Fr. Philip Matuska organized pil-
grimages to the original Grotto.

Amish Church. The first church of this de-
nomination in the State was organized in
1833 where East Peoria now is located.
Some time later the members of the Amish
church li\'ing in Worth found the need for
a church in their midst, so it was decided
to build a lirick one about three miles
east of Germantow n in the year 1854. Land
\\'as also obtained for a cemetery a short
distance east of the church and is now
known as the Hickory Point Cemetery. In
1911 a new frame building was erected one
mile east of Metamora and the old church
was torn do\\n. Some years ago a boulder
with an inscribed bronze placjue was placed
along Highway 116 to mark the site of the
first church.

Christ Church. Prior to 1960 a group of
residents of the Germantown Hills area
was affiliated with the Metamora Christian
Union Church. At that time the group felt
the need of a church in the community; it
was decided to buy three acres of land and
the residence of Mrs. Bertha Pedrick, and
soon afterward ser\ices and Sunday school
were held in the house. Rev. John Story
was the minister. One year later Mrs. Ped-
rick donated one acre of land adjoining the
chiucli property and with the aid of the
Metamora church a fine brick church was
erected in 1963. It has a membership of
about 70 families and the present pastor is
Rev. Hayward Kehl.

Baptist Churcit — A group of 11 charter
members of the Baptist Church of German-
town Hills and Peoria area organized and
built a small church in the \illage, which
was later sold to the Mennonites. Soon,
with increased membership it became
necessary to have a larger church; the
parish bought five acres of land from Ern-
est Sullivan on Schmitt Lane where in

Worth Township

1963, a larsicr buildint; was eroctcd and
dedicated in 1965. It now has 100 nienibeis
with the Rev. Don Russell of Washington,
Illinois serving as pastor.

Mcimoiutc Churcli. About the \ear 1950, a
congregation of Mennonites was organized
in Gemiantown Hills and services were
held in the grade school until 1962. At that
time the small Baptist C'hurch was pur-
chased. Now there are Sunda\' and mid-
week services regularly for the congrega-
tion of 40 members. Rev. W'avne King is
the minister.

It is believed that many years ago there
was a Cerman Lutlieran C'hurch in western
Worth, but tlie e.xact location has never
been obtained.

Cemeteries

Besides St. Marys Cemetery on the
Lourdes grounds and Hickory- Point Ceme-
tery, there are several other burial plots in
various locations. Near the Art Haedicke
home, below the state hill, there is a family
plot called Haedicke Cemetery. The old
Koch burial plot is in the present Cater-
pillar Prov ing Grounds. The Union Ceme-
ten.' is in the north western part of Worth.
On the Eller propertv' just west of German -
town there is an old abandoned burial plot
with a few gra\'es. Another, sometimes
knowii as the Winkler Cemeterv' is located
a few miles north of Lourdes. Mater Dolo-
rosa Cemetery is on the grounds of the Mt.
Alvemo Convent.

Schools

Ck'rmantovvn School is undoubtctllv the
first school built in Worth Township. It
was a small, one-room log cabin erected
about 1836. This was used until al)out 1876
when it became too small. A larger one-
room frame building was the next school
house and was used for nearh' 50 years,
when more space was added. A few years
later, about 1940, more room was added
and another storv' built. On December 8,
1953 it was destroyed by fire with a loss of
more than 840,000. A new brick building
100 feet from the fire was not damaged.
This building was finished hurriedlv and

187

put into use, with an enrollment of 200.
Since that time there have been more im-
provements and additions including a
kitchen, cafeteria, and gymnasium. The
children are brought to classes In* bus. In
1967-68 there are 450 pupils enrolled and
17 teachers empl<)\ed. Mr. Rav' Combs,
who has been the principal for the past 17
years, still holds that position.

Mrs. Elizabeth Wernsman 87, is perhaps
the oldest resident of the area who at-
tended the school 82 years ago. She recalls
some of the earliest teachers. .Among those
were: Jacob Schrepfer, Frank Fischer, Jo.se-
phine Zeller, Minnie Runner, Margaret Mc-
Givens, August Blum and Mrs. Willhoit.
Later from 1915-1930 some of the school
masters were: Allington Jolly, Mr. Silldorf,
Theresa Theobald, Cecelia Dalv-, Izola
Steider, Agnes Robertson, .Maureen Ehrin-
ger, Gladys Schertz, Alverda Schcrtz, and
Miss Perdelwitz. Many of the old timers
recall the enjoyable family picnics, box
socials, programs and .spelling bees given
in the "country schools".

Lourdes School dates back to 1S40. It
was a one-room cabin built of logs with an
opening on one side for light and a fire-
place made of stones for heating. There
were no desks, rough planks were used for
seats that were fastened to the wall with
wooden pegs. The schoolmaster's desk was
a board fastened to the wall and he used
a hand-made wooden stool. Slates were
used instead of paper and books were very
scarce. Reading, spelling, arithmetic, and
writing were the main subjects taught. In
1871 the building was moved across the
road and used for a grocery store and post
office. About 1881, a new frame building
was erected where the first school stood.
From 1850 until 1882 the teachers were:
Engelbert Nader, Leonard Wagner, Anton
Limbach, Mr. Schultz, Mr. Thomas, Laura
Page, and William Weiderholt. In 1870
there were 100 children in Lourdes school;
practically all of them walked long dis-
tances, coming from Worth, Partridge,
Spring Ba\- and Metamora Townships. Two
nuns arrived from LaC'rosse, Wisconsin in
1882 and taught the school. In 1908 another

188

Woodford County Hisionj

classroom was added to the building. Since
1882, the school was a district school, al-
though it kept the character of a parochial
school with religious classes before school
hours. Because it was inadequate according
to modern standards, the Lourdes School
was closed in 1955, the Centennial year for
the church, the children being transferred
to Metamora schools.

There were a number of riual schools
also. They were scattered in xarious loca-
tions :

Pleasant View District No. 39— Last year
for classes was 1953-1954, and Eileen Stiv-
ers was the last teacher.

Oak Hill District No. 40— Last year for
classes 1949-50. Emma Schupp was the last
teacher. Oak Hill became a part of Meta-
mora CCl by election 12/3/49.

Hickory Point District No. 66 — Last year
for classes 1954-55 with Delores Klein be-
ing the last teacher.

Prairie Lake District No. 70 — Last year
for classes 1943-44. Last teacher was Glen
Stevens. By election this school became a
part of Metamora CCl on December 3,
1949.

Hill Side District No. 117— Last year for
classes was 1954-55; last teacher was Ruby
Johnson.

The buildings were sold, some used for
homes, others moved and used for other
purposes.

Some interesting figures have been found
concerning the schools. In the year 1920
there were 337 students in Worth schools.
Operating expenses for that year were
$15,622 and the property value was $14,050.

In 1940, the assessed value of Worth was
$554,755; there were 148 students, operat-
ing expenses were $20,233 and property
value was $18,750.

In 1955 the assessed value was $1,874,-
125, students numbered 250, operating ex-
penses $50,589, and the property value
was $145,000.

At the present time (1967-68), the as-
sessed value is $5,195,455, the number of
students in Germantown Hills, the only
school in Worth, is 450 and operating ex-

penses $185,511. Property value is $420,000.

Records show that in the year 1860 there
were six schools in Worth, there were six
teachers, five male and one female. The
total number of students in all schools was
.368, the largest number taught by one
teacher was 60. In 1860, there were 185
boys and 185 girls in schools. There were
six districts and six months was the length
of the term. The highest wage paid per
month was $.33. .33.

According to the census of 1960 the pop-
ulation of Worth was 2539, in 1920 it was
844, 19.30 population was 716. in 1940 it
was 906 and 19.50 it was 1.422.

In the assessment lists of 1861, it was
found that land in the township was as-
sessed at $2.50 to $12.50 per acre. Elections
reported 85 to 119 \oters. A poll tax of
$1.00 per man was paid either in cash or
road work for one day. S. W. Beck was the
supervisor then, Da\id Call, to\\n clerk,
Joseph Meister, assessor, Joseph V'etter, col-
lector, Chas. Molitor, justice of the peace,
Conrad Kerker, constable, Ferdinand Eck-
stein, road commissioner, with Frank Stu-
der, George Sommers, Peter Kiese\\etter
and Conrad Rohman as the four road o\er-
seers. The township was then di\ided into
four areas and each o\ erseer had a section
near his home to care for the roads and
bridges. This method was abolished, how-
ever, in the 20"s after more road machinery
was purchased.

The Post Office Department inaugurated
the service of the first post office in Meta-
mora in 1902. Sam Wallin was the first
rural carrier. Elias Grove was hired to de-
liver the mail on Route 2 which was
through Geniiantown Hills and Lourdes,
on to the edge of Spring Bay, a distance of
24 miles. He began his deh\'ery with a one-
horse shay on roads that were merely two
ruts, and when they were gone eight
months of the year, the daily trip was
truly a hardship. In the early spring, when
the roads were boggy, tra\'eling was at a
snail's pace. The trip often required a
change of horses and took long hours,
sometimes into the night. When roads
were drifted with snow, it was impossible

Worth Tonn.ship

to coinplcti' the ciitiif route in one day
and often part of it was made on foot. Auto-
mobiles were used only in summer until
all roads were improved. Mr. Gro\e's .salar>-
was $50 a month, and at the time of his
retirement in 1928 he was receiving $1.-
SOO.OO a year. Carriers following his term
were: Weigand Parr, Sam Willman, Wil-
liam Briggs, Paul Wagner and the present
carrier. Cliff Spore.

In a Woodford County Directory printed
between 1910 and 1920 there were about
25 cars listed in Worth Township. There
were also a few farm tractors using kero-
sene for fuel. Grain \\as harvested with a
four horse bindiT, the bundles were
shocked, and sometimes stacked, until a
steam-powered threshing outfit came to
thresh the grain. Farmers had a threshing
ring, helping one another as each had their
turn. Com was husked by hand in horse-
drawn wagons and stored in cribs to be
shelled later by a custom sheller and hauled
to the elevators. All this ended as modern
machinerx made its way on the scene.
Butchering da\' was another day to lend a
helping hand. Farmers' wi\es made their
o\\ n soap, churned butter and made cheese.

189

canned and stored the fruits and vegetables
from their gardens. There were no washing
machines and ironing was done with heavy
fiat irons heated on a kitchen range.

Dr. Hazard was supposedly the first
physician in Worth, no doubt. Dr. Mans-
field and Dr. James Whitmire of Metamora
also cared for the sick in this area. Dr.
Joseph Knoblauch, who came to Metamora
in 189.3, had many patients in Worth, as
did Dr. S. M. Burdon of Low Point. Since
there were no telephones to summon a
physician in the late 1800's and early
190()'s, long trips were made to town to
obtain the services of the doctors, and in
bad weather such trips were indeed a hard-
ship. Babies were delivered in the homes;
and minor operations were performed
when it was not possible to reach a distant
hospital.

Mt. Alverno — Novitiate

In the year 1961, the Sister of the Third
Order of St. Francis bought a 40-acre farm
from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Iloffer in Edge-
wood Hills, west of Germantown Hills, for
$40,000. On May 17, 1962 ground was
broken for the million dollar structure to be

The Mt. .\l\erno Novitiate completed in Hlfvt in Wdrtli rouiisliip.

Woodford County History

District Eight Headquarters for tlie Illinois State Police erected in Worth Township in 1964.

erected there; the first unit to be built was
the educational recreation building. The
cornerstone for the chapel and Mother
House was laid on August 25, 1963. Sepa-
rate quarters were built for the chaplain,
Fr. Grzybowski; also a 40-bed infirmary
was constructed. It was completed in 1964
at the cost of $2,750,000. The Mother House
is also used for retired Sisters.

The Sisters of that community first set-
tled in Peoria in 1S78, with a few nuns
from Germany; now it is an organization
of 12 hospitals, and the community is en-
tering the teaching profession.

Firms who cooperated in the construc-
tion C. Iber & Sons, major contractor; Fred
V. Grawey, electrical; J. D. Dillon Plumb-
ing Co., F. E. Neylon Co.; and Richard
Nauman of Metamora, masonry.

The new project was financed through
the resources of the Third Order of St.
Francis and private contributions.

State Police Headquarters

The new Police headquarters building is
located on Route 116 about IVi miles east
of Germantown, on the site of the old
Union House. Gov. Otto Kerner was pres-
ent at the dedication in July of 1964, and
about 500 area residents and \'isitors toured
the fine $200,000 edifice. The area has ex-

cellent communications through the head-
(juarters in case of emergency; in addition
to a W'Cather reporting system axailable by
telephone.

Girl Scout Camp

Early in 1954, the girl scouts had been
in an area council for three years. With the
tremendous growth and development they
soon realized that the rented land then
being used as an established camp was
inadequate and not suitable for expansion.
If they wished to have the accredited camp
their charter called for, they had to go into
action, which they did. Discussions with
the Community Chest were started and
during the course of the next year a new
site was optioned, adequate water found
on it, and details were studied and agreed
upon. A capital funds drive \\'as mutually
agreed on for 1956. Nearly $205,000 was
raised. A 380-acre camp site, se\eral miles
north of Hickory Point, the former Albert
Scott farm, was purchased. This site has
about 40 acres of level land and a large
wooded area.

The Kickapoo Council serves eight
counties and part of another. It was named
Camp Tapawingo and a 30x75 foot swim-
ming pool was constructed. The new build-
ing was opened May 24, 1957. It is located

Worth Tounsliip

3 miles east and 2 miles north of Gennan-
town Hills. Because of lack of funds somi-
features were omitted, hut from time to
time appropriate additions ha\e been
made, including the staff house, L'nit
Lodge 4 and I'nit Lodge 5 and an e(|uip-
ment shed. There are plans for an in-
firmar\' in the future

The camp operates fi\e periods of 12
days each. One hundred girls are ser\cd
each period. The members of the piuciias-
ing committee ac<iuiring the new site were:
John Altorfer, Howard Axtell, Fred Lutln,
Jr., Ldward Martin. George Scully, Mrs.
John W'inings, .Mrs. Carl Placher. Mrs. K. J.
Wendall and Mrs. Timotln Swain.

The appro.ximatc cost for land, buildings,
and other facilities was S2.S5,()()().()().

There were no telephones in the town-
ship until about 1904. Fart of the area was
served by the Mi-tamora exchange owned
by Peter Somniers. The western area was
hooked on to a farmer ser\ ice line to
Spring Ba\-, wiiere John \\'inkler operated
a switchboard in his liome. Telephones
used were the old magneto crank t\pe and
there were from 10 to 15 parties on a
single line. About 1936 the lines from Meta-
mora were extended farther than (German-
town and in 1952 Illinois Bell built lines
throughout the western part of Worth up
to a line about one mile west of German-
town. In 1955 a new exchange was built in
Germantown Hills on a plot of ground pur-
chased from Mrs. (Jertnide Clawit/.. The
dial s\stem was installed at that time.

In 1964, it was found that the efiuipnuut
at the Germantown exchange was inade-
(juate for further expansion and it was re-
placed entirely by new equipment. This is
known as "terminal per station" equipment.
New cable was added in the area and a
major improvement was made with the
constniction of a .30x40 addition to the tele-
phone building to house additional e(|uip-
ment.

("entral Illinois Light Go. of Peoria built
electric lines in the rural communities in
1940, and gas lines were installed to the
Germantown area in 1960. The lines were
(>xtended from that point along the Old

191

Mill Road to Spring Ba\- in the summer
of 1967.

Water Facilities

Public water service is oflered b\' three
prixately owned utilities. (;aterpillar Trail
Water Works is the largest, pro\iding water
to about 300 customers ( 1,000 persons), A
100.000 gallon tank near Ciermantown Hills
provides storage and pressme for the sys-
tem's users. Water is obtained from a well,
near the tank, at a depth of 3.32 feet.

Tuek-a-way Trailer Park operates a pub-
lic t\ pe water facility to ser\e 94 lots or
families. Water is obtained from a well and
a 5,500 gallon water storage tank is also
pro\ ided.

The Timberlan Water Works pro\ ides
ser\ice to a limited area along tiie Tumber-
lan Road. Water is obtained from a well
and pressure is generated in a 1.000 gallon
pressure tank at the site of the will.

Until recently the Edgewood Hills Water
Association, Inc. served the Parkway and
Skyhne Dri\e area through a well. Most of
this s\ stem has been accpiiri'd by the
Caterpillar Trail Water Works. The re-
maining portion of the area is ser\i'd by
indi\iduall\- owned and operated private
well s\ stems ser\ ing one user.

Sewer Facilities

Onl\' two sanitar)' sewer systems exist in
the Germantown Hills area. One is owned
and operated by the former \illage of Oak
Gro\e Park. It is a combination Imholl
tank-dosing tank-filter bed sanitary sewer
and treatment plant, which serves only the
original subdixision. The system utilizes a
separator-lagoon treatment system and
ser\es approximately 140 persons. Tuck-a-
way Trailer Park owns and operates the
remaining sanitary sewer and treatment
plant located in the area.

It has been noted in anotlui' item ol this
histor> that in the period of 1920-1930
Worth Township lost population: in fact
it dropped from 8S4 to 716. Beginning with
the census of 1930, the township has grown
in population and the relative rates of
growth indicate that this township has in-

192

creased in population at a far greater rate
than the entire county. Between 1950 and
1960. 2Ti of the total count\- increase in
population occurred in Worth. The fact
that the area lies .so close to Peoria has
enabled residential development, thus
more people nio\ed in.

Employment of the area's labor force of
834 persons is extremeh' liigh, and of the
total labor force, 99.04% were employed.
According to the 1960 census, 70'/ of the
employed group works in Peoria County,
302 within Woodford County; one-fourth
of the labor force is female.

Roughly, over one-third of the tow nship's
families earn between $7,000 and $9,999. In
another analysis. Worth families represent
9% of the total county employed families;
14% of the county families who earn be-
tween $7,000 and $25,000 li\'e in Worth
Township. For families earning less than
$3,000 only 2.8% are from Worth.

Widening of the highway through Ger-
mantown Hills may decrease population
slightly since a number of homes will be
taken by the state. With the future de-
velopment of residential and industrial
zoned areas there should be a definite in-
crease. Numerous plans have been con-
templated for parks, recreation areas, a
civic building, and a shopping center.

Fire House

Until the year 1961, the Worth Township
area was serxed by the Metamora and
Spring Bay fire companies. A group of citi-
zens and the Civic Club decided that the
area should ha\e their own firehouse and
equipment as that arrangement would be
more economical than depending on the
use of outside services. A board of trustees
was appointed by Count\' Judge Don Pio-
letti, the members being Maynard Durst,
treasurer; Wayne Smith, president; Don
Morgan, secretary.

The board decided to purchase a $16,000
fire truck and to buy a site for tiie station
adjacent to Germantown Hills. The cost
was $2,.354. On December 15. 1961, groimd
was broken for a new $29,000 firehouse.

Woodford Couitly History

The new building was 46x72 feet in size,
a steel frame building with a permanent
finish and with insulated curtain wall ex-
terior. Pelco Structures Inc. was the con-
tractor. It was designed to house all equip-
ment beside providing meeting and train-
ing space for the volunteer firemen.

The pumper was purchased from Lloyd
Schumacher. There were 47 applications
filed for the volunteer fire-fighting depart-
ment. Anton Zehentmeier was the first fire
chief. The fire district basically ser\es the
Germantown Hills school district. The fire-
house is also used as a polling place for
Precinct No. 2.

Worth Township is recorded in the earli-
est political events as Democratic, but on
national tickets where party lines were
closely drawn it usually was Republican.

The township had several men who
served in the Ci\ il War. Many names from
this township appear on the Honor Roll of
World War I, and se\eral made the su-
preme sacrifice, among whom were Anton
Birkner and Frank Schneider. Scores of the
Worth area serxed in World War II also,
as well as the Korean and Vietnam con-
flicts.

Clubs

Rotary Club. The Metamora-Germantown
Hills Rotary Club was organized in Oc-
tober 1967 and held its charter night on
Wednesday, February 21. 1968 at St.
Mary's Parish Hall. Howard Parker, Rotarv'
district goxenior from Effingham, pre-
sented the charter to Dennis Sutter, presi-
dent of the club. Other officers of the club
are: Willard Rockier, \ice president; Joseph
Powell, secretary, and Richard Seib, treas-
urer. The club is sponsored by Washington
Rotary Club. There were 21 charter mem-
bers. The club meets every Wednesday
noon at Wernsman's Ta\em in German-
town Hills.

Community Club. The original German-
town Communit)- Club was organized in
1934. Col. George Wernsman, who was
very active in community affairs in his day,
was the first to come up with the idea of
such a club. With the cooperation of two

Worth Tan nsliij) 193

Germantown school teachers at that time. treasurer. Mrs. I/.ola Steider. It was decided

Miss Al\erda Schertz (now Mrs. Art to ha\e meetings tlie first ThiirsdaN evening

Carber) and Mrs. Izola Steider, he called of e\ery month at 7:30 at the sehoolhouse.

a meeting and tin- following officers were Since its founding, the clul) lias sponsored

chosen: president, Mrs. Lena Ilarbers; \ice man\' community proji'cts. It is now known

president, Mrs. Joseph ilofier; secretar)- as Germantown Hills Ci\ic Club.

RESOURCE PAGE

Woodford Count\ History — 1S7S — Wm. Le Baron

History ot Woodford County — Roy L. Moore — 1910

Portrait and Biographical Album of Woodford County — Chapman Bros. — 1S89

Early History of Woodford County — Frank Irions — J^48 ^

Woodford County (Pictorial )— John Drury-Ul 935 ]\ \\^

Old Settlers History of Woodford County— BjTladford— 1877

Autobiography of Benjamin Johnson Radford — 1928

Woodford County and Its Towns

Atlas of Woodford County and State of Illinois — ^^'arner Beers — 1873

Farm Plat Book and Business Guide — 1949

County Court Records

Village Board Records

Church Histories and Cemetery Records

County Superintendent of Schools Office Records

History of Eureka College — 1894

Willow Leaf— 1940

Along the Line— Nickel Plate— 1945

El Paso Story — 1954 Centennial Publication

Old Settlers Publications— 1964 & 1966

Bloomington Pantagraph

Local Newspapers

Industries

Businessmen's Publications

Personal records and recollections

The Committee wishes to express its sistance in de\eloping this histor\'. Special

gratitude to all those individuals who re- thanks is also tendered to all the kind

lated memoralile experiences and data as people who aided in preparing the final

these contributions were of immense as- drafts of the manuscript for the printer.

194

Charles and Al)l«2;ail Ricli Letters

Charles Rich was burn in Xcw York in LSKi; lir rcccixi'd a good ctluc-atioii and
taught school for several terms in l)oth tlie cast and in Missouri. He was married
in 1842 to Miss Abigail Carpenter, a nati\e ol Massachusetts, and tliat same \ear
the couple came to Illinois, settling in Woodford C^ount) .

In the possession of Wilbur Rich, a grandson of Charles and Abigail Rich, are
letters w ritten in the lS40's to Abigail's family in Massachusetts. Each letter is
written on a single sheet of paper folded in such a way that the address is on one
portion, eliminating the need for an enxelope. No stamps were used, the postage
— usually 25«' — was simph' written in ink In the postmaster.

195

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** . > /• . -'1

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\ <>J ■//.■,! ,'i.^./i)r,/ '/< , C /i',fi/ri t,.a i„- f ■ I'lj^yrJ Jr .J^i>^ /f,t///! ., //^ //f [
' ./ill!,- If < ' .An If /ir Aril ftfn ./"i/'r/f// i- itfn./.! n/r,/ ,'/)f./j .^n,/ A.ii ...A'.n
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